Amy Jones

Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris in Scotland has been ranked Europe's best beach by Iglu Cruise after analysis of TripAdvisor data, receiving 93.8% five-star reviews. The beach was praised for its white sand, clear blue water, dramatic scenery and lack of crowds, with visitors comparing it to the Caribbean. The ranking reflects growing interest in less crowded European destinations and places Luskentyre ahead of beaches in Italy, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and other countries.

Stirling has been named Scotland's happiest place to live in Rightmove's Happy at Home Index, ranking among the UK's top 10 destinations due to its community feel, green spaces, friendly neighbours and job opportunities. The city is praised for its mountain and river landscapes, historic attractions including Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument, walkable Old Town, independent shops and cafés. Its position as a gateway to the Highlands and proximity to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park also make it attractive to visitors, with Airbnb reporting a 79% increase in searches for summer 2026.

A proposed European Union rule could require airlines to include one small wheeled cabin bag, in addition to a personal item, in advertised fares. The measure aims to improve price transparency and reduce unexpected baggage charges, but its coverage of UK airlines and some UK–EU routes may be limited. Airlines could raise base fares or introduce other fees to recover revenue, and existing cabin-bag charges are expected to remain in force through 2026 and much of 2027 if the rule is approved.

Jet2 has launched app functionality that gives passengers live flight times, flight-status updates and details about in-resort Customer Helpers from 72 hours before departure. The update also expands access to travel-support information, following the airline’s existing Live Transfer Status feature for coach journeys. Jet2 is advising passengers to check flight information at least 12 hours before departure, arrive at the airport two hours early and remember that check-in desks close 40 minutes before departure.

Terry Winter, 56, was prevented from boarding an easyJet flight from Birmingham to Tenerife because his UK passport had been issued more than 10 years before his planned arrival, despite not being expired. The post-Brexit EU entry rule also requires at least three months’ validity beyond the planned departure date. Winter obtained a replacement passport through the one-day premium service in Peterborough and flew to Tenerife the following day with his wife, but said the disruption cost him nearly £1,000 in replacement flights, accommodation, fuel, lost tickets and passport fees. easyJet said passengers are reminded during booking, check-in and by email that they are responsible for ensuring their travel documents meet the requirements.

The Clachaig Inn in Glencoe has been named the UK's best beer garden by travel comparison website Enjoy Travel. The historic Highland pub was praised for its mountain views, particularly of Aonach Dubh, traditional food and selection of more than 400 malt whiskies. The Old Mill Inn in Pitlochry ranked second, while Edinburgh's Cold Town House also made the top 10. The article lists the full top 30, featuring scenic riverside, coastal, lakeside and countryside pubs across the UK.

Stirling has been identified as one of Scotland’s most promising summer staycation destinations after Airbnb recorded a 79% year-on-year increase in searches for the city for summer 2026. The compact, walkable city offers historic attractions including Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument and the Battle of Bannockburn, along with cafés, shops, green spaces and access to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The trend reflects growing demand for cheaper, quieter metro-fringe destinations as UK travellers seek better value and more relaxed domestic breaks.

LNER has highlighted several Scottish beaches that are accessible by train ahead of warmer weather forecast from 20 May. The recommendations include Portobello Beach near Edinburgh, Nairn Beach in the Highlands, Broughty Ferry Beach near Dundee and Troon Beach in Ayrshire, offering features such as golden sands, promenades, wildlife, calm waters and nearby attractions. LNER says rail travel can reduce parking and traffic-related hassles while making coastal day trips easier.

A Sykes Holiday Cottages ranking names Scotland’s Isle of Skye as the UK’s best seaside destination for a short staycation, ahead of St Ives in Cornwall and Whitby in North Yorkshire. Brighton, the Causeway Coast, Torquay, Anglesey, Bournemouth, Newquay and Padstow complete the top 10, with Cornwall appearing three times. The list highlights beaches, coastal scenery, piers, harbours and traditional seaside attractions across Britain and Northern Ireland.

Caledonian MacBrayne operates ferry services from Mallaig to Scotland's Small Isles of Canna, Rum, Muck and Eigg. The journeys take between 30 minutes and five hours, offering views of dramatic landscapes including the Cuillin Mountains, remote beaches and Eigg's An Sgùrr ridge. Winter adult fares start at £5.25 for a single journey to Eigg, with the listed prices valid until 26 March 2026 before the summer timetable begins.

Prince Harry’s essay about British identity has prompted commentary that he may be homesick and could be leaving open the possibility of returning to the UK, while analyst Judi James also interprets it as an expression of longing for Prince William and dissatisfaction with life in the United States. Harry’s simultaneous Canada trip, focused on veterans and Remembrance events, was criticised as potentially overshadowing William’s Earthshot Prize engagements in Brazil. Harry’s representatives denied deliberate coordination, saying the Canadian events had been planned nearly a year earlier and that security advice determined when the visit could be announced. The timing has nevertheless reportedly angered figures close to William and exposed the fragility of the brothers’ attempted reconciliation.

Kira Cousins, 22, from Airdrie, admitted that she fabricated a nine-month pregnancy, staged scans and a birth story, and presented a toy doll as her newborn daughter, Bonnie-Leigh Joyce. Her family, boyfriend and friends reportedly believed the story, provided support and gifts, and were later devastated when the deception was discovered. In an apology, Cousins accepted responsibility, expressed remorse and said she was seeking help. Consultant psychologist Dr Joanna Silver said such behavior may stem from loneliness, grief, distress or an unmet desire for connection, while stressing that psychological support and compassion are needed alongside recognition of the harm caused.

People infected with the Stratus COVID-19 variant, including Nev, have reported severe fatigue, chills, body aches, headaches, congestion, sore throats and unusual teeth or jaw pain. A hoarse or raspy voice is identified as a distinctive early symptom, while UK infection rates are reported to have risen from 7.6% to 8.4% in a week. Nev said the illness was her worst COVID-19 experience but recovered and returned to the gym within days.

An ITV doctor identified hoarseness and a sharp, painful sore throat as distinctive symptoms to monitor for the Stratus COVID-19 variant, while headaches, coughing and nasal symptoms may also occur. Stratus and Nimbus are reported to be the dominant monitored variants in the UK, though current evidence does not suggest they cause more severe illness than other circulating strains. People with suspected infection are advised to avoid vulnerable individuals, stay home where possible, use face coverings and maintain hand hygiene, while eligible people should receive vaccination.

Health experts warn that rising cases of Covid-19, influenza and RSV could create a seasonal “tripledemic” in the UK. The Stratus Covid variant is described as commonly causing a hoarse or raspy voice and a severe sore throat, alongside symptoms such as nasal congestion, fatigue and digestive problems. Because symptoms overlap with colds and flu, readers are advised to monitor for recognised Covid, flu and RSV signs and eligible people are urged to receive winter vaccinations.

The Covid-19 variant Stratus, comprising XFG and XFG.3, is spreading internationally and has been monitored by the World Health Organization since June. Its distinctive early symptom is often a hoarse or raspy voice, alongside sore throats, congestion, digestive problems and fatigue. UK infections rose by 7.1% in one week, although the proportion linked to XFG is unclear. Experts say the variant may partially evade immunity and be more transmissible, prompting UK health authorities to encourage eligible people to receive updated Covid, flu and RSV vaccinations.

The Stratus COVID-19 variant, identified as the XFG lineage, is spreading in the UK and elsewhere. A hoarse or raspy voice may appear earlier than more typical symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue, congestion and digestive problems. Experts say the variant may be more transmissible and better able to evade existing immunity, particularly affecting people who were not vaccinated recently, and recommend keeping vaccinations up to date while taking precautions as children return to school.

Andrew and Debbie Melbourne built a prefabricated log cabin on agricultural land within the South Downs National Park after buying the site near Catherington for about £20,000. East Hampshire District Council obtained a court order requiring the cabin to be removed and the land restored, while the couple were fined £3,500 and warned that non-compliance could lead to prosecution or imprisonment. Although the cabin was dismantled, residents and officials said the site remained an eyesore, prompting an additional 28-day deadline ending September 5, 2025. The council and South Downs National Park Authority described the construction as serious planning and environmental harm in a protected landscape.

A London couple’s coffee outing ended when café staff allegedly ordered the wife to leave because she had not purchased or consumed anything. Her husband said she could not eat due to allergies, and that staff refused both to let her remain and to refund his untouched coffee. He complained to the owner without receiving a response, while Reddit commenters widely condemned the policy and the couple’s treatment.

The Martin family disappeared after leaving for Christmas shopping in December 1958. The bodies of two daughters were found months later, but the other daughter and the parents remained missing, amid speculation ranging from accidental drowning to possible murder. Independent diver Archer Mayo located the family’s submerged station wagon in an Oregon-Washington river in November 2024 and later found human remains, including remains inside a nylon stocking, after the vehicle broke apart during an attempted recovery. The Hood River County Sheriff's Office is examining the evidence to determine whether it belongs to the Martins; the case remains open and no murder investigation or suspects have been identified.

A husband says his wife expects him to spend several weeks each year on holidays with her parents, despite his dislike of the destination, rental and tense family dynamics. After he expressed his distress, his wife accused him of forcing her to choose between him and her parents, while her parents allegedly became hostile and passive-aggressive. Reddit commenters largely advised him to refuse future trips, establish boundaries and consider counselling.

A two-year-old boy disappeared from his family's caravan while camping in the Manorlands area of Utah over Father's Day weekend. A passer-by later found him unresponsive in a drainage ditch about one mile downstream. He was taken to hospitals in Wyoming and Salt Lake City, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are investigating and currently believe the death was a tragic accident, pending findings from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner.

Perrie Edwards became emotional while discussing the end of her friendship with former Little Mix bandmate Jesy Nelson on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast. Nelson left Little Mix in December 2020, citing the impact of the group and its pressures on her mental health, and later said she was no longer in regular contact with the other members. Speculation about a feud intensified after Nelson’s solo career began, particularly following Blackfishing accusations surrounding her “Boyz” video and alleged leaked comments by Leigh-Anne Pinnock. Nicki Minaj also publicly criticised Pinnock during a livestream.

Gary Lineker has maintained a close friendship with his second ex-wife, Danielle Bux, even after she married American entertainment lawyer Nate Greenwald in 2019. Lineker says Greenwald is not jealous and that the former couple continue to meet socially and attend family gatherings. The story also covers Lineker's decision to leave Match of the Day after the 2025–26 season, while continuing BBC work through the 2026 World Cup, and his preference to remain single.