Australian Grand Prix organisers say they are “really confident” the travel chaos caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East will not impact the opening race of the Formula 1 season this weekend.

Close to 1,000 members of staff have been forced to rearrange flights, with an estimated 500 of them reportedly set to be flown from Europe on charter planes.

It comes after the US and Israel launched an attack against Iran on Saturday, sparking retaliatory strikes across the region.

F1 also said it was “closely monitoring” the situation, with upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled in April.

Australian Formula 1 chief Travis Auld said on Monday that “everyone will be here ready for the race” as Melbourne prepares to host the 2026 curtain-raiser.

Many drivers and other key personnel based in Europe have had travel plans affected by the major disruption to global air transport, with key routes through Qatar and the United Arab Emirates impacted.

“The last 48 hours have required some reshuffling of flights,” Auld said.

“That is largely Formula 1’s responsibility. They take charge of the teams, drivers and all the personnel that are required here to make this event happen. There’s quite a number of them.

“My understanding is that’s all now been locked in, everyone will be here ready for the race and fans won’t notice any difference.”

All crew members are believed to have survived

‘Several’ US warplanes have crashed in Kuwait as strikes on Iran continue, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence has said.

Theu are said to have crashed in the country on Monday morning with all air crews surviving, the ministry added. The cause of the crashes are not known at this stage.

A statement shared by the official Kuwait Army account on X, said: “The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense announced that several US warplanes crashed this morning, confirming that all crew members survived.

“He explained that the relevant authorities immediately initiated search and rescue operations, evacuating the crews and transporting them to the hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.

“He noted that their condition is stable. The spokesperson added that direct coordination is underway with friendly US forces regarding the circumstances of the incident, and joint technical procedures are being implemented.

“He affirmed that the relevant authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the cause of the crash, urging the public to obtain information from official sources.”

Social media footage was shared earlier this morning of what is believed to be an F-15 fighter falling from the sky in Kuwait.

It comes after US and Israel hit targets across Iran on Sunday as part of an intensifying military campaign which followed the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel also launched strikes on Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Monday after missiles were fired by militant group Hezbollah.

The dispute is believed to stem from the appointment of council clerk

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A council meeting descended into chaos resulting in five councillors resigning one after the other. The five councillors had previously voiced concerns regarding governance at Caldicot Town Council and declared in a statement that they “do not believe sufficient progress has been achieved” in tackling the issues they had raised.

A statement released by the council said it “does not recognise the suggestion that there are ongoing governance failings” and that it operates in accordance with its rules, statutory legislation, national regulations and its code of conduct.

Four of the five had walked out of a council meeting in October, expressing frustration that bodies responsible for upholding standards on local volunteer councils — which are permitted to employ their own staff — indicated they either wouldn’t, or couldn’t, pursue their complaints.

The dispute is believed to stem from the appointment of council clerk Mark Tredwin in September 2024, initially on a probationary basis, before being confirmed in a permanent role in 2025.

Complaints had been lodged against the clerk, who is understood to have the backing of a majority of councillors. The council has a full membership of 16, though it now faces six vacancies following the resignations and the recent death of a fellow councillor.

Amongst the concerns highlighted was a claim that a member of staff had been prevented from returning to their duties following sick leave, alongside internal personnel issues and tensions between the clerk and dissatisfied councillors.

The situation has now intensified following the departures of councillors Jill Bond and Rachel Grumach, who represent the West End ward, Tony Easson representing the Dewstow ward, and Castle Ward councillors Robert Wilsher and John Woodfield.

Three of the five were originally elected as Labour councillors, although Tony Easson, who also serves as a Monmouthshire County Councillor, was latterly listed as independent after his suspension from the Labour Party, whilst Rachel Grumach and John Woodfield stood as independents.

In a joint statement, the five said: “The decision reflects shared and long-standing concerns about governance, organisational effectiveness, and the overall working environment within the council, impacting delivery to the Caldicot community.”

They said that over the previous 15 months they had attempted to tackle the matters through “proper channels” within the council and external bodies including the Welsh Local Government Association, Audit Wales, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, the Information Commissioner’s Office, One Voice Wales – the umbrella organisation for town and community councils – and Monmouthshire County Council’s monitoring officers, as well as local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd.

“While these engagements were undertaken in good faith and in the interests of securing improvement, the councillors do not believe that sufficient progress has been achieved to address the underlying issues,” the statement issued by the five said.

Caldicot Town Council’s statement said resignations are “always a matter of regret” and thanked the five for the service but said there would be no detrimental impact on how the council functions.

It said: “Like many councils, Caldicot has experienced periods involving employment matters which have placed pressure on administrative capacity.

“Members have consistently been advised that the greatest risk to the council’s effectiveness arises not from governance structures themselves, but from divisions within the membership and any failure to adhere collectively to agreed governance procedures, standing orders and the code of conduct.

“The council remains committed to transparent decision-making and to serving the residents of Caldicot. Work continues to ensure stability, continuity and effective service delivery.”

This man was awarded an MBE in 1995 for his charity work

Within communities, there are always a few people who stand out as local legends. One considered a local legend in Cambridge’s past is former road sweeper Snowy Farr.

Snowy was known in the city for his eccentrics and antics. Many locals will remember him for his famous outfit – a bright red tunic, black boots and shiny medals.

Born Walter Farr, he was also known for his bright white hair, which he sported since childhood and therefore gave him his Snowy nickname. He was mainly based in Petty Cury or Cambridge’s market square.

He would mostly be seen with a cat sitting on top of his hat and a mouse in his mouth. At other times, mice would also be running across his hat, as well as pigeons balanced on the end of his umbrella.

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Other animals that joined Snowy for his antics included dogs, guinea pigs and chickens. Although these seem like odd antics, Snowy had good intentions in mind.

He would perform for crowds with the aim to raise money for charity. Over time, he raised nearly £70,000 for charities supporting blind and partially-sighted people.

In 1995, he was recognised for this charity work as he was awarded an MBE. Sadly, Snowy died aged 88 in 2007.

He was found at his home in Oakington. Snowy’s popularity was proved at his funeral, as around 100 mourners attended the service at St Andrew’s Church in Oakington.

Snowy was familiar to the church as he used to tend to the ground as he said “God had told him to do so”. At his funeral, Reverend James Alexander said: “We all have our memories of Snowy, with his long white beard, performing animals and cart, in the middle of Cambridge.

“It was an amazing sight, and crowds of people used to gather to watch him. He was awfully clever with animals, and when people asked me how he did it, the answer was he simply spent all day, every day with them.”

In 2012, a sculpture was installed outside the Guildhall in Cambridge to commemorate Snowy. It was designed by artist Gary Webb and features a cat-topped hat with mice running around the brim.

The village is only five miles from Cambridge

A village that is perfect for commuting gives people a hint of the city life, while enjoying a countryside life. Cambridge is often considered to be a sought-after location for high paid jobs.

However, living in the city comes at a high price. So, for those who want to live close to work without spending all their money on rent, they’ll need a place that is a good commuting destination. A village perfect for this is Comberton, only five miles from Cambridge, with around 2,400 residents.

The village’s name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon period, meaning Cumbra’s Farm. Comberton is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Parts of St Mary’s Church in the village are over 800 years old, and some houses date back to the 14th century. The village streets are filled with big homes and tall trees.

There is much on offer in the village for people, including shops, schools and a friendly community pub. The village pub is The Three Horseshoes, a family-friendly pub that brings a great atmosphere to locals. Staff are said to be welcoming and it offers a wide range of drinks and snacks.

The village schools also cater up to 16 years old, as there is a primary school and village college. For any sporty people, they can also take advantage of the CB3 Health and Fitness facility.

With so much on the doorstep, Comberton has plenty to offer, in a quieter and more rural setting.

Around 24 million people claiming DWP benefits will receive their payments as normal in March 2026, with no bank holidays affecting the schedule

Benefit payments will arrive as scheduled in March for millions of recipients, as no bank holidays are planned during the month. Should your payment date fall on a weekend or bank holiday, you’ll typically receive the money on the preceding working day.

Those receiving Universal Credit, State Pension, Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and other benefits should anticipate funds arriving in their accounts on the usual date. Should any problems arise with your payment, get in touch with the relevant office managing your benefit.

Currently, approximately 24 million people across the nation are claiming some form of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) administered benefits, including State Pension recipients, accounting for roughly one in three individuals. Analysis by Policy in Practice reveals that £24bn in benefits remains unclaimed annually.

Should you believe you’re eligible for benefit payments, you’ll need to provide bank, building society or credit union account information when applying. Alternative payment methods are only available if you encounter difficulties opening or managing an account.

The basic State Pension is paid directly into bank accounts. Payment typically occurs every four weeks, with the precise day determined by the final two digits of your national insurance (NI) number, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Much like other benefits, payment dates are expected to remain consistent throughout March. Significant changes are set to affect household bills come April.

Energy regulator Ofgem has confirmed that the energy price cap will fall by 7% in April. This reduction will apply to all households, including those on fixed tariffs, and requires no claim or application. The exact savings for each household will vary depending on individual circumstances and energy usage, but average savings from this cut are expected to be approximately £150.

From April, both the new and old State Pension will rise in accordance with the triple lock. The DWP states this will benefit millions of pensioners with above-inflation payments.

Nevertheless, it will bring state pension payments within touching distance of the personal allowance threshold. After the increase, the full new state pension will amount to roughly £12,547.60 per year, whilst the frozen personal allowance remains at £12,570.

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that Universal Credit claimants will see their payments rise this year. Benefits linked to inflation are set to increase by 3.8% from April, whilst others will receive a 2.3% uplift.

The RAF base Akrotiri in Cyprus has been hit by a one-way attack drone, amid a fresh conflict in the Middle East that started on Saturday.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News’ Mornings With Ridge and Frost the strike hit the airport’s runway and said “all of the precautionary measures are being taken around the base”.

There were no casualties in the incident at the base near Limassol, Cyprus.

However, in response to the attack, the base is moving families and temporarily relocating non-essential staff.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) described it as a “precautionary measure”.

The families are being relocated to alternative accommodation on the island.

Iran latest: Israel says it is striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

An MoD spokesperson said: “The safety of our personnel and their families is our absolute priority.

“Our base and personnel continue to operate as normal protecting the safety of Britain and our interests.”

The UK government has not yet confirmed where the drone originated from.

It was the first attack on the RAF facility since a rocket attack by Libyan militants in 1986.

An MoD spokesperson said earlier: “Our armed forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time.”

Later on Monday, Cyprus’s President Nikos Christodoulides said authorities there are on full alert after the drone strike.

But he reiterated the territory “⁠does not participate ⁠in any way and does ‌not intend to be part of any ‌military operation”.

The armed forces had been moving extra resources, including counter-drone systems, F-35 jets and radar systems to its bases in Cyprus.

The MoD said the additional capabilities were purely for defensive measures: mainly detecting and defeating airborne threats.

Sky News understands the drone involved in the incident at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was small.

Read more:
Trump has tipped Middle East into war that could last weeks
UK plans evacuation for tens of thousands from Middle East

The suspected strike came hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK had allowed the US to strike Iranian missile sites from select British bases.

Sky News understand these to be RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the disputed Chagos Islands.

Responding to the announcement, the Liberal Democrats warned of a “slippery slope” that risked the US “[dragging] Britain into another prolonged war in the Middle East”.

A ‌Cyprus government spokesperson said: “Information received through ‌various channels indicates that it involved an unmanned drone, which caused limited ⁠damage”.

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UK expats caught in Middle East conflict

Hostilities in the Middle East are entering their third day, with the US and Israel continuing to strike Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

More than 200,000 British nationals, including military personnel, are thought to be at risk in the Gulf as the Tehran regime launches further missiles at its neighbours.

The first American flag-draped coffin to arrive home will land with greater force than any Iranian missile.

For President Donald Trump, the loss of US military personnel redraws the political battlefield at home.

Trump has long cast himself as a president who understands the cost of war in human terms.

He mocked “forever wars” and vowed that American blood would no longer be spilt in distant deserts.

But the campaign rhetoric met harsh reality when he found himself back in the White House.

The moment American casualties were confirmed on Sunday, the war with Iran ceased to be something abstract.

Three personnel were killed and five others seriously wounded in a strike on a US base in Kuwait.

In Washington, the deaths – and his warning that there could be more – further polarised politics.

Supporters rallied around Trump, arguing that backing down now would dishonour the fallen.

Critics, meanwhile, framed the casualties as evidence of a president’s recklessness.

Read more:
Trump’s war with Iran has become personal for people in Dubai
Starmer denies U-turn claims on UK bases go-ahead for Iran strikes

The political middle – often quiet but decisive – asked the critical question: What are we dying for?

Escalation risks turning him into the kind of Middle East war president his own base rejected.

His U-turn, however justified on strategic grounds, will be tested in this year’s mid-term elections.

History suggests that presidents do not lose support simply because Americans die on the battlefield.

They lose it when deaths feel pointless, endless or poorly explained by the commander-in-chief.

In his latest address to the nation, he prepared Americans for a longer war and more casualties.

The speed with which it appears to be spreading across the Middle East will be another concern.

The longer it goes on, the more lives lost and the wider it spreads, the harder diplomacy becomes.

In the end, American lives lost in war with Iran will confront Trump with the paradox of leadership.

Power is never more absolute than in war, but never more fragile either.

Missiles might shape the conflict overseas, but it is mourning and memory that dictate its political cost.

Let’s be honest: home isn’t just where the heart is. The value of your house, especially if you’re lucky enough to be a homeowner, is often just as important as creating your perfect space.

Whether you’re into bold home design or play it on the safe side, there’s one faux pas you could be making… and you probably have no idea.

Anouska Lancaster, an award-winning interior designer best known for starring in the Channel 4 series Renovation Nation which followed the jaw dropping restoration of her Cornwall home, lets Metro in on the industry secret.

The golden rule of interior

‘There’s a fine line between having an eclectic home and having a cluttered home,’ says Anouska. ‘It’s a line you can easily fall over if you just keep collecting stuff.’

Anouska is by no means a minimalist designer. She’s a lover of bright colours, eye-catching patterns and showstopping feature pieces – and we mean showstopping. She has an antique carousel horse pride of place in her living room.

So, how do we make sure we’re walking the wobbly tightrope between less-is-more and more-is-more?

‘Sometimes you need to come at it with fresh eyes,’ Anouska tells Metro. ‘When you come back from being away, you might want to think to yourself ‘I need a little refresh’ and consider what needs to go.

‘I trained to be an artist,’ she says. ‘It’s a bit similar to painting a picture and knowing when it’s finished.

‘When you’re creative, you want to just keep creating, but you have to stop yourself as you can almost ruin a masterpiece by doing too much.’

To check a room doesn’t pass into over-cluttered territory, Anouska says: ‘When you’re looking at any room in your house, you have to be able to let your eyes rest somewhere.

‘It could be not putting those extra couple of cushions on a sofa, just because you love them. It could be a wardrobe that’s just painted, or a wall that just lets you gather your thoughts.’

What about increasing value?

Now we’ve got our heads around what not to do, there’s also plenty you can do, even on a budget, to up the value of your home.

‘Wow-factor pieces really add value,’ says Anouska.

‘Even if you can’t afford to do a whole room, if you just have one thing that really stands out – for example, the most amazing, upholstered sofa, an incredible headboard or an antique dresser – that’s what people remember.’

On the vintage carousel piece, pride of place in her own home, she says, ‘it kind of doesn’t matter what else I have in the house, because everyone always talks about the horse.’

Anouska says it can be helpful to take one room at a time when upgrading your home.

‘Years ago, when I moved, I couldn’t afford to put a new kitchen in, so I completely painted it. It started as an orange oak. I coated it in acrylic eggshell, then picked out a fuchsia pink I like.

‘I couldn’t afford a hood for the hob, so I created the look of a stipe running down the wall. Everyone would just be wowed by the colour and wouldn’t take any notice of the actual fabric of the kitchen.’

On top of colour drenching, Anouska recommends one other kitchen hack.

‘Handles totally transform. Everyone’s moving towards brushed and gold polished brass. If you get new handles, the whole space can look brand new.’

You don’t need to break the bank

‘Don’t be afraid to pair an expensive piece with high street stuff – mix and match. It makes it much more exciting anyway.

‘Home Sense is my guilty pleasure,’ says Anouska on her favourite high street spot, where she finds bargains to put alongside antique pieces. ‘I’m absolutely obsessed. I’ll go in there for a candle and come out with a chair.’

If you do have a bit of a budget, Anouska says there’s one thing she would recommend splashing the cash on when decorating.

‘Buy an investment piece. A piece of art that you absolutely love. Even if you can’t afford to do anything else in the room, art is really great.’