DIY expert Nick Knowles said he’s no longer going to Turkey as BBC Morning Live viewers told ‘it could see holidays in jeopardy’

A BBC travel expert has given an update to anyone with holidays booked or considering going on a foreign break this summer. On BBC Morning Live consumer champion Rebecca Wilcox told hosts Rav Wilding and Holly Hamilton how concern is growing from people with breaks lined up – as to if it could be cancelled, will they be charged more supplementary fees and will they be covered.

And during the section show DIY expert and guest Nick Knowles revealed his family has decided to cancel their holiday to Turkey amidst all the uncertainty. Host Helen said: “With this morning’s headlines showing oil prices at their highest level since 2022 there’s growing concern that airlines could respond by raising fares or even cancelling some flights.”

Ms Wilcox agreed and said: “It’s very worrying and and the number of headlines make us spike in our concern and I can see that the fuel price is going up making concerns go up and what we’re going to talk about today is how specifically that is going to affect the holiday pricing with airline fares because, of course, jet fuel, is integral for flying through the air.

“Jet2 has told us they are seeing an increase in holidaymakers leaving it to the very last minute to book their holidays, and that’s so they know the full cost of their trip at the time of purchase and that is due to the conflict in the Middle East.

“It tells us that there’s a real worry going on out there. People are quite hesitant to book, they don’t know whether they should go ahead with it. On Monday we heard the Prime Minister saying that airlines actually do have enough jet fuel at the moment but it could see holidays in jeopardy in the future and that depends upon how long this conflict goes on for which, of course, nobody knows.”

She said more people are considering whether to go ahead or just book a staycation in the UK instead. Presenter Holly Hamilton said: “Most people when you chat to them, it’s at the forefront of their mind about booking holidays and in some cases they are cancelling them. Nick you and I were chatting about it and you’ve cancelled your holiday.”

Nick Knowles said: “Yes a holiday in Turkey and we’ve decided to stay home. A holiday in the UK is more expensive than going abroad – so we’re going to go in the back garden and drink cocktails and sunbathe in the back garden. The trick is don’t tell anyone you’re not going away because then they’ll ring you and interrupt.”

Holly said, “Bad news, you’ve just told everybody.” Nick added, “I’m going to be in such trouble with my wife now.”

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Rav asked: “Can holiday companies just raise prices then?” Rebecca said: “I’m devastated that Nick is not going to Turkey – how is he going to get those new teeth he was talking about earlier? I’m joking, obviously his teeth are beautiful.” Nick interjected: “I’m going back to the same people who did my hair it’s fine.”

When can holiday companies raise prices

Rebecca said: “They can only raise their prices in specific circumstances because there is a law protecting consumers from these huge hikes in prices that they could add on for any random charges. This law is known as the Package Travel Regulation and it means we are protected.

“The surcharges they are allowed to add on are related to things like fuel cost increases, which we’re talking about today, transport taxes and fees and any fluctuations in the exchange rate movement. They have to say this in your T&Cs at time of booking so just c heck your terms and conditions.”

Holly said: “The people who have booked their holiday will be thinking ‘how much could they possibly add on?’ “ Ms Wilcox said: “Well, it is a limited amount they can add on before they give you the option of cancelling or a refund and that amount they can add on is 8 per cent. This 8 per cent is broken down into 2 sections because the holiday company has to swallow that first 2 per cent and then you as consumer will only pay 6 per cent and that’s of the total cost of your holiday package.

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“What does that look like for a holiday? So for instance if you’ve spent £1,000 on your holiday that’ll be an extra £60. A £3,500 holiday, another £210, and a £5,000 cruise that’s £300. They can only ask for this for up to 20 days before you travel and that’s why people are booking these last minute holidays because the time limit for that 6 per cent has already gone.”

Package holidays

Rav gave an example from a viewer, Jeff, who was due to pay the balance on his holiday – he’d booked the flights and the accommodation through the same agent and asked if his family would be able to get a full refund if they have to cancel our holiday because of the shortage. Ms Wilcox said: “This sounds like he’s booked a package holiday when he’s booked the flight and the accommodation together and that means you do have more protection and you should be offered a full refund and a suitable alternative if they make major changes.

“If it’s a flight only deal they must offer you a replacement flight or a refund. If they offer you a holiday voucher or credit with them instead of cash be really wary and think twice about doing it. They may lure you in by offering you something that’s supposedly more than what you spent so it looks like it’s of greater value, but I would say you’re more protected if you get the cash back.” She said there may be restrictions, there may be an end date on the credit and also the company could go bust.

She said getting travel insurance when you make the booking was vital as you’re protected from then until time of travel.

The list includes requests for tree felling, the creation of new sports facilities, various residential extensions, and adjustments to previous planning consents.

A full summary of each application submitted to Durham County Council is provided below:

• Hollin Lodge 29A Etherley Lane, Bishop Auckland DL14 7QU. Works to trees including reducing the height of one conifer by 4m, tidying one conifer, and crown reduction and reshaping by 3m of two cherry trees under a Section 211 notice. Ref. No: DM/26/01079/TCA
• 26 North Road, Seaham SR7 7AB. Felling and removal of two conifer trees. Ref. No: DM/26/01084/TCA
• Cell R5 Lambton Park Development Site At Former County Show Ground, Chester Road, Bournmoor DH3 4DX. Non-material amendments to conditions covering plans, drive crossings, landscaping, boundary treatment, and bat/bird boxes for approved application DM/23/01888/RM (as amended by DM/25/02874/NMA). Ref. No: DM/26/01067/NMA
• 165 Hatfield Place, Peterlee SR8 5TG. Pitched roof. Ref. No: DM/26/01059/FPA
• Fairbank The Promenade, Consett DH8 5NJ. Single storey front/side porch extension to the property. Ref. No: DM/26/01050/FPA
• 50 Northside Buildings, Trimdon Grange, Trimdon Station TS29 6HW. Application to apply render to both the front elevation and gable end. Ref. No: DM/26/01047/FPA
• 4 Stockton Road, Sedgefield, Stockton On Tees TS21 2AG. Removal of an existing conservatory and construction of a new single storey extension. Ref. No: DM/26/00988/FPA
• 11 Holyrood, Great Lumley, Chester-le-street DH3 4LY. Erection of a garden room within the property’s grounds. Ref. No: DM/26/01046/HPN
• 5 The Cedars, Coxhoe, Durham DH6 4SG. Creation of a new racket sport club within the premises. Ref. No: DM/26/00972/FPA
• Unit 8 Gemini Point, Peterlee SR8 2FB. Variation of condition 2 relating to previous planning application DM/19/02830/FPA. Ref. No: DM/26/00971/FPA
• White House, Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor, Durham DH7 7PW. Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension with alterations to vehicular access and creation of hardstanding. Ref. No: DM/26/00918/VOC
• 4 Gomer Terrace, Toronto, Bishop Auckland DL14 7SE. Replacement of the existing conservatory roof with a new one. Ref. No: DM/26/00874/FPA
• 21 South Street, Durham DH1 4QP. Variation of condition 1 to amend the rear offshoot/balcony area and discharge condition 6 regarding balcony privacy screen details from planning permission DM/24/01835/RM to prevent shading to rear windows. Ref. No: DM/26/00797/FPA
• Plot 18 Dunelm Stables, Thornley, Durham DH6 3BN. Change of use from agricultural land to residential curtilage, erection of polytunnel and erection of greenhouse (retrospective). Ref. No: DM/26/00762/VOC
• Moorlyn, Wingate Road, Trimdon Colliery, Trimdon Station TS29 6AX. Change of use from agricultural land to residential curtilage with erection of polytunnel and greenhouse (retrospective). Ref. No: DM/26/00707/FPA
• The Old Byre, Market Place, St Johns Chapel, Bishop Auckland DL13 1QF. Discharge of condition 3 regarding window/door details tied to planning permission DM/22/01132/FPA. Ref. No: DM/26/00561/DRC

For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo (publicnoticeportal.uk).

• 1 Mill Cottage, Demesnes, Barnard Castle DL12 8PE. Discharge of condition 3 concerning joinery details attached to permissions DM/25/02330/FPA and DM/25/01852/LB. Ref. No: DM/26/00582/DRC
• 60 Deneside, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0LY. Conversion of part of the front garden to create hardstanding for car parking at the front. Ref. No: DM/26/00193/FPA
• Woodleigh, Flatts Road, Barnard Castle DL12 8AA. External alterations for the opening of a Banking Hub and Post Office, including new signage. Ref. No: DM/26/00109/FPA
• Woodleigh, Flatts Road, Barnard Castle DL12 8AA. Application for various advertisements connected to the Banking Hub and Post Office, including fascia, projecting, window poster, directory, and CCTV signage. Ref. No: DM/26/00110/AD

Proposals for a 2,700 square metre supermarket and other shops, a drive-through, pharmacies, and restaurants at Filey Road in Scarborough have been met with dozens of objections from local residents.

​More than 60 letters have been sent to the council, many of which detail concerns about the development’s impact on town centre businesses and on the local environment and biodiversity, as well as noise and sound pollution that could affect neighbouring properties.

​Concerns were also raised about pedestrian safety and access as well as light pollution.

​Objector, Marion Hawkins, said: “As a local resident, I believe this development is totally unnecessary.

​“There is no need for another supermarket or takeaway shops and its isolated position means only those with cars will be able to access it.”

“The town centre is dying – any developments of this nature belong there, where they can attract people into the town – not away from it.”

​However, not all residents are opposed to the plan, with several locals stating their support for the scheme proposed by Cliff Court Developments Ltd.

​Paul McGuire said: “Clinging onto the idea of a thriving town centre high street is not going to help.

​“It just won’t happen, times have changed, shopping habits have changed and we as a town need to adapt.

​“This is a positive move that will boost employment and provide much-needed amenities to the ever-expanding Eastfield and Cayton areas.”

​​A full planning application has been submitted for the extension of the current park and ride facility, the creation of two new roundabouts, and the construction of an internal access road.

​The outline plans – which would see more detailed proposals submitted after approval – include a wide range of potential businesses and services.

​​“Strong interest” has already been expressed by potential occupiers, but the “end operators have not yet been selected, and therefore the applicant seeks permission for a range of uses to provide maximum flexibility and to enable the development to respond to changing market conditions,” according to Lichfields, the agent for the application.

New Scarborough Retail Park, Filey Road. Illustrative Masterplan..

​Local resident Lisa Al-Bizri stated: “The proposed 24-hour nature of a major supermarket and drive-thru units is entirely incompatible with the existing residential character of Filey Road.”

​Scarborough Town Council has also objected to the proposal due to “serious concerns about the damaging effects out-of-town developments can have on the footfall and viability of our town centre”.

​Jennifer Blyth-Rouse, who opposes the scheme, said: “There are already sufficient supermarkets and shops within reach, and we need tourists to fund the town shops and events.

​“A new retail park would stop this from happening. The town relies on footfall and the present park and ride would be sufficient.”

​Another objector, Karen Moorhouse, stated: “I am absolutely horrified at this appalling planning application, which will have such a negative impact on so many households in the local area, not to mention all the wildlife that inhabits the proposed planning area.

​“We moved to Sea View Crescent to enjoy a quiet and peaceful retirement, which so far has been ideal. Close to the sea, and a lovely view of the countryside from our bungalow, which would be ruined if this proposed application is allowed to go ahead.

​Commenting in support of the application, resident Colin Braithwaite noted: “I feel a supermarket is an essential need in that area, particularly with the new development across the road, and if a drive-through were to be a coffee shop, I think it would be well used and one of the few on that side of the town.”

​​If approved, the developer would have permission to use commercial units for shops, cafés and restaurants, medical and health services, a tanning shop, and a hot food takeaway.

​​The proposal states that the park and ride is served by the No. 165 bus service, which provides access to Scarborough town centre and runs every 20 minutes, seven days a week, between April and November.

​​The application adds: “The proposed commercial development will significantly improve the range, accessibility and availability of local shops, services and facilities to local residents and tourists.

​​“Indeed, there is currently a shortage of such facilities in this area, as identified by local residents during the pre-application public engagement.”

​North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the plans which are open to representations by members of the public.

Planning summer holidays in Europe is beginning to involve more focus on avoiding high temperatures.

Destinations including the Greek islands and southern Italy have traditionally relied on warm, stable summers to attract tourists. But they have faced extreme temperatures causing mass evacuations, wildfires and putting lives in danger in recent summers.

Even without those conditions, high temperatures are changing the summer holiday experience. Tourists are often more exposed to heat risk than residents. They spend longer periods outdoors, take part in outdoor sports, and navigate unfamiliar environments without knowing where to find shade, or local healthcare. Yet despite this heightened exposure, tourists’ vulnerability to extreme heat remains relatively underexamined.

Recent summers have made these risks visible. During 2024, parts of southern Europe, including Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus, experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C. During Greece’s record-setting heatwave, several foreign visitors died or went missing including the British broadcaster Michael Mosley. Mosley went missing on the Greek island of Symi and a coroner found the cause of death could have been heatstroke. In response to these very high temperatures, countries including the UK, Germany, and Sweden issued travel advisories warning of extreme heat in popular destinations.

Heat is not just a safety issue; it is also reshaping the quality of the holiday itself. Extreme temperatures can shorten stays, reduce participation in outdoor activities, and lower overall satisfaction. Key tourist sites, such as the Acropolis in Greece, may close in extreme heat making trips less satisfying. As a result, rising temperatures are already influencing what tourists can do, when they travel, and how destinations function.

Shifting travel patterns

As heat intensifies, travel patterns are beginning to shift. A growing number of tourists are moving away from traditionally hot Mediterranean destinations towards cooler regions, a trend often described as “coolcations”. Emerging evidence points to declining tourist demand in parts of southern Europe during peak summer months, alongside increased interest in destinations with milder climates.

Elevated temperatures are also influencing when people take a trip. A recent report by the European Travel Commission found that 28% of travellers are planning to change the time of year that they travel. Avoiding extreme heat was cited as a key reason.

Extreme heat also interacts with other climate-related pressures. Wildfires, drought and water shortages can disrupt tourism activities and local economies. As one participant in ongoing research at the University of East London described:
“Our reservoir was very low over the summer… boating, sailing, and water sports couldn’t run. The centre has now closed. You see those ripple effects.”

Climate is not the only factor shaping travel decisions this year. Geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, are contributing to rising fuel and travel costs. This is adding another layer of pressure, encouraging some travellers to reconsider long-distance or high-cost travel

These pressures can reinforce climate-driven trends. If southern destinations become both hotter and more expensive, travellers may be more likely to choose nearer, cooler alternatives.

Extreme heat is no longer a marginal issue for tourism; it is becoming a structural one. As heatwaves intensify and seasonal patterns shift, traditional peak holiday seasons may no longer align with safe or comfortable conditions.

Adapting will require more than incremental change. It means rethinking infrastructure, timing and visitor management, from providing shade and cool spaces, to redesigning tourism calendars. In some destinations, this is already happening, with attractions shifting opening hours to cooler periods of the day, a trend increasingly described as “noctourism”.

But adaptation is not only physical; it is also behavioural. A key part of this transition lies in how travellers perceive and respond to heat. Perception shapes behaviour: whether visitors adjust their plans, seek shade, stay hydrated, or recognise when conditions have become dangerous. This is particularly important for travellers from temperate countries, such as the UK, where awareness and experience of extreme heat remain relatively limited. Without a strong perception of risk, even well-designed warnings may fail to prompt action.

Clear and timely communication will therefore be essential. Travellers need support to interpret unfamiliar risks and take protective action when needed. This includes clearer public messaging, accessible guidance on heat safety, and better integration of tourists into national and local heat health alert systems.

At present, most heat alerts are designed with residents in mind. Yet tourists represent a highly exposed and often overlooked group. Integrating communication to visitors into heat action plans, through multilingual alerts and travel advisories, will be increasingly important as global travel continues. This kind of information needs to be developed for travellers and tour operators.

It is vital to improve our understanding of tourists perceptions of risk from heat, how to respond, and the effectiveness of communications.

Airlines, hotels, and travel websites could provide key ways to communicate in future. Providing heat-related guidance at the point of booking, before departure, and during the stay could help bridge the gap between awareness and action. In years ahead, if summer temperatures continue to intensify this could be vitally important.

Certain older people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be entitled to backdated mobility payments from the DWP following a change in the law

Certain older recipients of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) who receive the lower rate of the mobility element may be eligible to request that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) review their claim, following a recent legislative amendment. Those who have reached State Pension age could also qualify for an enhanced mobility award, even if they are no longer receiving the benefit.

It is crucial to note, however, that the legislative change applies solely to claimants of State Pension age and their entitlement to the enhanced mobility award. DWP guidance confirms it only covers PIP claims reviewed between April 8, 2013, and November 20, 2020.

This legal amendment stems from a tribunal ruling on May 22, 2020, which identified an inadvertent gap in regulation 27 of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, reports the Daily Record.

The guidance states: “DWP did not have the legal powers to restrict the mobility award for claimants who were in receipt of the standard rate of the mobility award and over State Pension age, on the grounds of new medical evidence. New medical evidence is a report from a health professional requested by DWP which recommended the enhanced rate of the mobility award.

“DWP were only able to restrict the mobility award for claimants if a relevant change in circumstances was identified after they reached State Pension age.”

Amendments to PIP regulations came into force on November 30, 2020, in order to address this unintentional legislative oversight. The DWP is urging anyone who believes they may have been affected to request a review of their claim.

Who may be eligible for PIP enhanced mobility rate?

The DWP previously relied on a health professional report when assessing your claim, and if you had not notified them of a change in your mobility requirements, you may be entitled to an uplift in your mobility award.

This is because the DWP should not have informed you it could not be increased due to reaching State Pension age – meaning you could have received additional funds.

The enhanced mobility rate is worth £80.00 per week during the current financial year, approximately £320.00 every four-week payment period. An award for the enhanced mobility rate could also allow someone to join the Motability Scheme, to assist them with getting around.

Eligibility

You may be entitled to an increased award for the mobility component of your PIP, even if you have stopped receiving PIP, if all of the following apply:

• You had your PIP claim reviewed between April 8, 2013 and November 20, 2020
• You were over State Pension age
• You received the standard rate of the mobility award
• You did not report a change in your circumstances that affected your mobility needs
• You had a health professional assessment
• You continued to receive the standard rate of the mobility award
• Your decision letter told you we could not increase your mobility award because you were over State Pension age

The DWP has also previously stated that if you are currently receiving PIP, they will not reduce your award due to this change. However, it added it cannot revisit any decisions made by a tribunal.

How to apply

Contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 6579 and state you are enquiring about the ‘Regulation 27 administrative exercise review’.

You will need your National Insurance number. You can also contact them by post, full details are available on the GOV.UK website here. Full details can be found on the GOV.UK website here.

Kody Bates, 28, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court in August last year after an unprovoked attack on a staff member at the Knowsley Street branch of McDonald’s.

Greater Manchester Police have also now applied for and been granted a criminal behaviour order that will ban him from the town centre for two years.

A spokesperson said: “Officers secured numerous convictions for serious assaults of female retail workers and sexual assault/harassment of female members of the public within Bolton town centre.

“As part of the order, Bates must not enter the town centre and is not to approach lone women in any public place, including retail self-service premises unless they are personally known to him or unavoidable as part of lawful daily life.”

Kody Bates has been banned from the town centre (Image: GMP)

Bates was brought before the court last August for an unprovoked attack he had launched nearly two years earlier on October 8, 2023, punching the young woman three times.

Addressing the August hearing John Richards, prosecuting, said that the young woman was left fearful that she would lose her sight and that she had had recurring nightmares.

He told the court that Bates, of Vermont Street, Halliwell, had 14 previous convictions for 28 offences.

Ben Berkson, defending, said at the time that Bates had struggled with his mental health and with his time in prison.

Describing the assault as a “wicked and unprovoked attack on an innocent young lady” Recorder Michael Blakely jailed Bates for 22 months.

With the custodial part of his sentence having since ended, Greater Manchester Police says its Bolton North Neighbourhood Team applied for the order banning him from the town centre.

The force says that this is part of its ongoing efforts to tackle violence against women and girls.

As well as forbidding him from approaching lone women and girls, the order also means Bates can only go into the town centre for specific reasons.

These are if he is going there for a pre-arranged appointment with a medical facility, a job interview or legal or housing services.

Bates’s criminal behaviour order is set to run to April 29, 2028.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc headed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in practice at the Miami Grand Prix.

Leclerc was 0.164 seconds clear of Verstappen, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri third fastest ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton as the season resumed following a five-week break.

Mercedes, who have won the first three races of the season, had a troubled session.

George Russell had a turbo problem early on, which was fixed by a reset in the garage, and could manage only the sixth-fastest time, 0.790secs slower than Leclerc.

He was one place behind team-mate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who did not get a chance to run on the soft tyres at the end of the session because Mercedes were investigating an engine problem on his car.

A teacher accused of murdering an adopted baby ‘jokingly’ told his partner, ‘your son’s in hospital. I strangled him’, a court heard.

Jamie Varley, 37, a minute later sent a second text to his boyfriend, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, saying: ‘Jokes. Just give me a call when done.’

The defendants had adopted 13-month-old Preston Davey in Blackpool in April 2023, Preston Crown Court heard.

Varley is accused of the murder of the child and McGowan-Fazakerley of allowing the death of the child, with both accused of sexual abuse, the trial, now in its second week, has heard.

The text messages were sent on July 10, just four days after Preston had been admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for a third time, after earlier visits in May and June.

On April 6, Varley texted his sister, a baby sleep trainer, saying Preston is ‘dead meat’.

He wrote: ‘He’s dead meat today. Didn’t sleep last night after 11.30. Up every, one and a half hours.’

Four days later, Varley sent his mum Karen Graham a video of Preston in his walker.

She replied with, ‘clever boy xxx’, but Varley said: ‘This was before he was murdered and put to bed.’

He also told his friend he thought Preston was a ‘ray of sunshine’ after he wrote: ‘First sleepover. I wanted to put him in the field with the cows’

On the morning of July 6 2023, Varley took Preston to hospital with an injury to his elbow.

He told hospital staff he was lowering the baby into his cot the night before when the child jumped or kicked his feet and he heard a pop or click in his left elbow.

An X-ray confirmed a small fracture and his arm was put in a cast.

Later the child’s social worker, Amy Shepherdson, who had been in contact with the hospital, texted Varley to say: ‘Just to reassure you they said they had absolutely no concerns.

‘U absolutely did the right thing.’

Ms Shepherdson visited their home later that day, noting that Preston looked pale and was not himself, adding: ‘He tried to smile several times but then this changed to a very sad face and a little cry.”

Jurors were also shown a text exchange between Varley and his friend, Tanya Tingle, telling her: ‘We did it we think…not on purpose but caught him when falling.’

A day later the family had a home visit from Helen Magee, an independent reviewer from Oldham social services.

In her report of the visit, apparently addressed to the baby, she wrote: ‘You were happy there with both your daddies. And this made me ponder a little as to whether there was a problem that I couldn’t see. I decided there wasn’t an issue…’

Dr Alberto Elbo, an orthopaedic surgeon, treated Preston at the fracture clinic the following week, when Varley brought him in.

Jurors were shown notes from the meeting he had dictated which said he was told the injury to the arm was from Preston being placed and strapped in a car seat and nothing to do with a cot.

Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, asked Dr Elbo about this explanation involving a car seat.

Dr Elbo said: ‘That’s what dad told me. What I understood from that day was he was being strapped in his car seat. That’s all I had in my mind when I dictated that letter.’

Nick Johnson KC, defending Varley suggested to the witness he had been told the injury came about due to a ‘cot’ not a ‘car’.

‘I don’t think so,’ Dr Elbo replied.

Preston was born on June 16 2022, immediately taken into care by Oldham Council, and placed with foster parents at five days old.

After undergoing an assessment and familiarisation process in early 2023 he was adopted and began living with the defendants on April 1 at their home.

Varley took a year off work as head of year and as a design and technology teacher at a local high school, South Shore Academy, to look after the child, but struggled as a new parent with a baby who frequently woke during the night and with his partner working long hours, the court heard.

During the four months the baby was under their adoption he was allegedly routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, was sexually abused and physically assaulted.

On July 27 2023 Preston was again brought in to the hospital by the defendants, unconscious and in a state of cardiac arrest, and medics could not revive him.

Varley told police the child accidentally drowned in a bath, but this was inconsistent with the post-mortem examination which discovered the child had suffered 40 traumatic injuries, the court heard.

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The trial continues.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is furious that the immigration agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis has been reinstated — and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to know if he’s working in their state.

“God forbid, every single American, every single person that that man encounters from his reinstatement on is in just great danger as she was in,” Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said in a video clip posted on X by the MeidasTouch Network.

Ocasio-Cortez also called Good’s reinstatement “so brazen” and “intentional.”

“You have an ICE agent who killed a woman, you know, in cold blood. But the fact that the agency has reinstated him is a direct message from the administration about the impunity they feel.”

In a letter to President Donald Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, Hochul said she was “deeply troubled by reports that Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot Ms. Good three times, has been quietly reassigned to another state” and said she had “no confidence that Ross can be trusted to safely interact with the public.”

“I am formally requesting confirmation that Jonathan Ross has not been reassigned to work in New York State,” Hochul wrote in the letter posted online by Politico.

“If Jonathan Ross has been reassigned to work in New York, I demand that he be immediately removed and not redeployed unless cleared after a full, independent investigation.”

Rep. Delia Rodriguez (D-Ill.) also told PunchUp and Migrant Insider that Ross’s reinstatement “should concern everyone,” asking, “What state will he go to?

Spokespeople for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the White House didn’t immediately return requests for comment Friday.

Ross was placed on three days of administrative leave after shooting Good during an ICE operation on Jan. 7.

Earlier this week, PunchUp reported that Ross had been transferred out of Minnesota and was working in another, unidentified state.

He’s been reassigned to administrative duty, according to NewsNation.

Rep. Sarah McBride said it was “absolutely outrageous” that Ross was again working for ICE and invoked the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during a confrontation with Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.

“It is clear this administration has learned nothing from the murders of Renee Good or Alex Pretti, and they seem to be asking for it happen again,” she said in a video clip posted by MeidasTouch. “There is no, no, no reason to put someone who murdered an American citizen on our streets back on those streets.

“There should be accountability, not unleashing this person back on American citizens in our communities,” McBride said.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn), who represents the Minneapolis district where Good lived, told told PunchUp and Migrant Insider that it was “really, really heartbreaking that we cannot get accountability” for her slaying.

A century ago, the five-day working week helped reshape society. It was introduced at scale by industrial pioneers to address not only worker wellbeing but also economic pressures.

US industrialist Henry Ford was among the first to give workers two full days off per week, 100 years ago this month. Ford suspected that giving workers a “weekend” would increase overall productivity – and he was correct.

Today, as advances in artificial intelligence accelerate and concerns about job security grow, a similar question is emerging. Could reducing working time again help societies adapt to these seismic changes?

The evidence increasingly suggests it can, but not in the simplistic way that is often portrayed. The four-day week is not just a workplace benefit. It is a potential tool to improve wellbeing, support families and rethink how work is distributed in society.

Research across multiple countries, including large-scale pilots in the UK and Portugal, shows that reducing working time can deliver meaningful benefits for both employees and organisations.

In a 2025 study of four-day week adoption, my colleagues and I found improvements in sleep, exercise and quality of working life. There were positive implications for both the mental and physical health of employees.

Our research showed productivity at work can also increase, alongside reductions in absenteeism and staff turnover. And it can be beneficial for an employer’s social image.

However, the most important insight is not about productivity but what happens outside work. After all, time is a social resource, not just an economic one.

When people move to a four-day week, they do not simply rest more. They reallocate time in ways that have broader implications for society.

Across our research, participants said they spend more time with family and friends, engaging in community activities and investing in their physical and mental health by exercising and practising hobbies and self-care activities.

These are not trivial changes. Over time, they contribute to stronger social ties, better mental health and more resilient communities.

There are also important gender implications. Early findings suggest that reduced working time can lead to fathers being more involved in caring for their children and other domestic responsibilities. While this does not automatically solve gender inequality, it creates conditions that make more equal divisions of labour possible.

In this sense, the four-day week is not just about work. It is about how societies organise care, relationships and everyday life.

The challenge in service sectors

Critics of a four-day week often point out that it is harder to implement in service sectors such as healthcare, childcare, manufacturing, hospitality or retail. This is true, but it is not a reason to dismiss the idea.

In these sectors, work is tied to time, presence and staffing levels. Reducing working hours often requires more complex redesign, including changes to rotas, additional hiring or upfront investment. Colleagues and I have highlighted this when addressing the UK case of the NHS.

But these challenges should be seen as design problems, not impossibilities. In fact, the potential benefits to society may be even greater in these sectors. Improved wellbeing and reduced burnout among healthcare staff and care workers can translate into better quality of service and fewer mistakes.

A more important concern is inequality. If working time reductions are adopted unevenly, there is a risk that some workers will be excluded – often those in lower-paid or frontline roles. This is a valid concern, but not an argument against the four-day week. Rather, it is an argument for implementing it more thoughtfully.

Instead of asking whether all jobs can adopt the same model, the focus should be on how different forms of reduced work time can be adapted across sectors. This could include shorter daily hours, staggered schedules or phased time reductions.

The future of work

The renewed interest in reducing the amount of time we spend working is not happening in isolation. It is closely linked to broader debates about automation, productivity and the future of work.

If technological advances continue to increase productivity, a fundamental question arises: who benefits from these gains?

Historically – during the Great Depression, for example – working time reductions have been one way of redistributing those benefits. Compared with more radical proposals such as universal basic income, the four-day week offers a more direct and socially embedded way of sharing gains in productivity.

The four-day week is not a universal solution, and it will not look the same everywhere. But the evidence shows working less can go hand-in-hand with maintaining productivity.

It can also support a shift towards a society where time is valued not only as an economic input, but as a foundation for wellbeing, relationships and participation in community life.

A century after the five-day week helped define modern work, there may be another turning point on the horizon. This time, the real question is not whether we can afford to reduce working time, but whether we can afford not to.