New 999 response time targets to speed up policing

Police forces will be expected to answer 999 phone calls within 10 seconds and reach the scene of violent crime faster under reforms due to be announced by the home secretary.

As part of a major overhaul of policing in England and Wales on Monday, Shabana Mahmood will say that police officers will be expected to reach the scene of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas.

The most serious incidents include danger to life, serious injury to a person or serious damage to property, and use or immediate threat of violence. They will also include crimes in progress or where an offender has just been found at a scene.

Ms Mahmood will give police forces new targets to ensure that standards are the same across the country. She said: “Everyday crimes are on the rise across the country and too often there seem to be no consequences.

“People are reporting crimes and then waiting hours or even days for a response. By the time the police arrive, the perpetrators and witnesses are long gone.”

The full reforms for policing will be unveiled in a white paper published on Monday. Ms Mahmood has already announced the formation of a new National Police Service (NPS), dubbed “Britain’s FBI”, which will take over responsibility for counter-terror, fraud and organised crime investigations.

The creation of the super force will free up local forces to tackle everyday crime, Ms Mahmood said. Currently, the Metropolitan Police is responsible for counter-terror policing, the National Air Service is run by West Yorkshire Police, and National Roads Policing by Sussex Police.

These national investigations will be dealt with by the new NPS, which will also take in the work of the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The government is also expected to radically reduce the number of police forces from its current level of 43. Police officers in England and Wales will be required to hold a licence to be able to continue working under the new plans.

Officers will have to renew a “licence to practice” throughout their career by keeping up to date with specific training, such as on tackling violence against women and girls.

Responding to the Home Office’s targets for answering 999 calls and attending serious crimes, John Hayward-Cripps, chief executive of Neighbourhood Watch, said: “The data shows that there is a real variation in how well different forces respond to incidents. Police effectiveness, and the trust we place in the police, is built on the relationships that they have and maintain with the public.

“Therefore, the government introducing national standards and, crucially, the resource required to meet them is a welcome step forward.”

Man Utd unleash new weapon with Arsenal architects of own downfall

There’s an air of Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer to the beginning of this latest interim era at Manchester United. So much has been talked about the club’s missing “DNA”, whatever that may consist of. But under the guidance of Michael Carrick, United are winning big games again – something that historically reflects “The Manchester United Way” – and just like under Solskjaer, a player reborn is at the heart of things.

With Solskjaer, that was a 21-year-old Marcus Rashford, revitalised after being misused out wide by Jose Mourinho. With Carrick, it’s Patrick Dorgu. The Dane has found new life in a United shirt since being moved forward into a winger role, a year on from being signed as a defensive solution by Ruben Amorim. His instrumental performance against the Gunners, including a screamer that few could have conceived, acted as further proof that he has spent the last 12 months held back by the now former United boss.

“Pat’s been a big player for us over the last couple of games attacking-wise – he’s scored two goals, but in terms of his threat and athleticism and his quality coming in as well,” Carrick said. “Delighted for him. His two goals (against Arsenal and Manchester City) are very different goals but you get that because he’s put so much into the performances. It’s nice to see him smiling and happy.”

The early stages held a mirror to Dorgu’s ghost of Old Trafford past. So much of Arsenal’s early joy was coming down the right flank and Dorgu was forced to return to his old post further back, soon finding himself fighting a losing battle against Bukayo Saka.

It was that duel that sparked the Gunners’ opener, with Saka calmly dinking it over the jockeying player’s leg to Martin Odegaard, who forced the issue by firing it into the six yard box occupied by Jurrien Timber and Lisandro Martinez, attached at the hip. Paul Scholes had warned Martinez not to get too high and mighty on his horse after impressing in last week’s derby and perhaps the Argentinian should have listened, with Odegaard’s pass bouncing off Martinez’s heel and into his own net. “When you start talking and shouting your mouth off, this game has a habit of coming and biting you back on the a**e,” Scholes said. He was spot on.

But from the moment Arsenal took the advantage, they too became seemingly intent on being the architects of their own downfall. Bryan Mbeumo found himself bearing down on goal right from the restart as the Gunners gave it away sloppily in midfield, but they were let off when Bruno Fernandes wildly blasted wide from the pull-back.

Mbeumo, United’s top scorer in his maiden season at Old Trafford, maybe should have gone alone and he made sure not to repeat the error when a similar chance was presented to him on a silver platter by the opposition. With the United press closing in, Martin Zubimendi panicked receiving a hospital pass from William Saliba and in trying to play it back to his goalkeeper, the Spaniard set Mbeumo – in his direct eyeline as he played the ball – clean through, with the Cameroonian rounding David Raya to equalise.

“We gave them the goal,” Arteta lamented, struggling to pinpoint why errors proliferated among his players as they allowed United back into the contest. “Errors are a part of football. It was very unlike us but we gave them the goal and hope, and that shifted the energy.” And with renewed spirits, accompanied by the impetus of their new weapon, the visitors came out swinging in the second half.

Though shaky at the back, Dorgu has looked like a new signing going forward. It was something we saw against Newcastle while Ruben Amorim was still in charge, making you wonder just why the stubborn Portuguese boss dragged him back to left wing-back before his eventual sacking. It was in line with his inability to adapt, even when better alternatives were staring him in the face.

Dorgu’s stunning volley five minutes after the restart, crashing in off the underside of Raya’s bar, put an exclamation mark on the error of Amorim’s ways. While Arsenal were far too easily cut open by the link-up of Dorgu and Fernandes, it would be unfair to pin such a spectacular effort on defensive shortcomings. “You get them where it kind of takes your breath away,” Carrick said.

Dorgu often found himself the furthest United player up the pitch. He had been allowed to abandon his defensive duties, with Carrick aware that the opposition half was where he belonged. That was until he was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury, though Carrick is hopeful it’s nothing serious. “He ended up coming off with a little bit of cramp, hopefully it’s nothing worse. At this stage it’s hard to tell so we’ll just have to wait and see, but we’re hoping it’s not too bad.”

Set pieces appeared to come to Arsenal’s rescue once again as Mikel Merino forced the ball over the line in the 84th minute after a goal-mouth scramble. That was their 15th from a set play this season in England’s top flight. Avoiding defeat would have been a huge let-off for the league leaders who, under fresh pressure from Aston Villa after their win at Newcastle earlier in the day, had not particularly threatened after falling behind.

But a piece of individual brilliance from Matheus Cunha three minutes later, who found himself in space to unleash a curler after three Arsenal bodies committed and failed to shut down Kobbie Mainoo, sealed the Gunners’ first home defeat of the season.

“We’re going to win the league,” sung the jubilant away end at full-time. They might be getting a bit ahead of themselves. But as Arsenal’s lead at the top was reduced to four points, seeds of doubt may have been planted into whether the Gunners will achieve that elusive feat.

Nearly 150 areas on flood alert as Met Office weather warnings issued

Almost 150 flood alerts are in place across the country as the Met Office issued fresh weather warnings for heavy rain and wind after Storm Ingrid battered parts of the UK.

Parts of a historic pier crumbled into the sea in Devon, and a sea wall that protects a railway line in Dawlish was brought down as huge waves and heavy rain lashed the coastline early on Saturday.

The forecaster has warned that further volatile weather is on the way, with yellow warnings for southwest, southern and mid-Wales on Monday, extending to southern England on Tuesday.

The forecaster warned that homes and businesses could be flooded, some communities could become cut off, and power cuts are possible.

The Environment Agency has issued 113 flood alerts, indicating flooding is possible, and 20 flood warnings, where deluge is expected, across England on Sunday. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued seven flood warnings and three flood alerts, while Natural Resources Wales has two alerts in place.

Outbreaks of heavy rain are expected to bring some transport disruption across the southwest of England, southern and mid-Wales, and some parts of the southeast of England. A yellow rain weather warning is in place across the region from 3pm Monday until midday on Tuesday.

Up to 30mm of rainfall is expected widely, with 50-80mm likely across higher ground, especially Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). With wet conditions before this period, the rain will fall on to saturated ground, accentuating flooding impacts in places. Strong southeasterly winds are also likely.

Another yellow rain warning is in place on Monday between noon and 6pm for County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry and County Tyrone across Northern Ireland. Heavy rain will move northeastwards across the area on Monday afternoon. Up to 20mm of rain is expected to fall widely, with 20-30mm in a few areas and as much as 40mm over high ground.

This will become a rain and wind warning on Tuesday, from 2am until 10pm, as rain will also be accompanied by strong east to southeasterly winds, particularly in northern and eastern areas, where peak gusts of 40-50mph are possible inland and 60-70mph possible along some exposed coasts.

The southeast of England will also experience a downpour from midnight through to midday on Tuesday, with 15-25mm of rain expected to build up widely across the area. A few areas will potentially see 30-40mm of rainfall and as much as 50mm over some hills.

The wet weather continues after Storm Ingrid, so named by the Portuguese Meteorological Service, brought gusts of 45-50mph and wet weather, causing structural damage across vast coastal parts of the UK on Friday night.

On the Yorkshire coast in Tunstall, a decommissioned nuclear bunker crashed onto a beach as the cliff eroded, while waves lashed at the coast across the southwest of England, causing part of the historic Teignmouth Grand Pier to crumble into the sea in Devon overnight. On Saturday morning, the Teignmouth National Coastwatch Institution said they had “never seen it this rough before” even an hour before high tide.

Meanwhile, parts of a sea wall that protects the railway line in Dawlish “just crumbled” after a “very dramatic” night, resident Peter Large told the BBC.

“The wall is now gone at either end,” he said. “I’m looking down at it now and there’s a strip about 80 to 90ft long where the wall has just crumbled. The waves are still crashing over the railway line and over the wall.”

Today and tonight:

Cloudy for many with outbreaks of rain and heavy showers. Further hill snow is likely across parts of northeast Scotland. A few brighter breaks developing at times in the south. Lighter winds for most compared to Saturday.

Largely cloudy with patchy outbreaks of rain, generally easing. Wintry showers mostly in the northeast, with mist and fog patches developing in any cloud breaks in the southeast.

Monday:

Generally cloudy with further outbreaks of rain for northeast England and east Scotland, wintry over the hills. A band of rain and strong winds arriving in the west and spreading eastwards.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:

Remaining unsettled throughout, with rain, showers and possible hill snow moving across the country with strong winds, particularly on Tuesday when another deep area of low pressure arrives. Feeling cold.

Kristen Stewart says she probably won’t stay in the US: ‘But I don’t want to give up completely’

Kristen Stewart responded “probably not” when asked if she thought she would stay in the US while Donald Trump remains president.

The actor is currently promoting her directorial debut feature film, The Chronology of Water, which was shot in Latvia because, Stewart said, it would have been “impossible” to do in the States.

“Reality is breaking completely under Trump,” the 35-year-old told The Sunday Times. “But we should take a page out of his book and create the reality we want to live in.”

She called Trump’s threat of tariffs on films made outside the US “terrifying” for the industry, while saying she “can’t work freely” in the States.

“But I don’t want to give up completely,” she added. “I’d like to make movies in Europe and then shove them down the throat of the American people.”

Stewart and Trump have crossed paths over the years, most memorably when he tweeted in 2012 that her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson “should not take back Kristen Stewart. She cheated on him like a dog and will do it again, just watch. He can do much better!”

Stewart was photographed kissing her married Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders, while in a relationship with Pattinson. Both Stewart and Sanders issued public apologies at the time.

In 2017, she chose to come out on Saturday Night Live while hosting, in an opening monologue that mocked the US president’s past tweets about her.

“Donald, if you didn’t like me then, you’re probably really not going to like me now,” she said. “Because I’m hosting SNL and I’m, like, so gay, dude.”

She married screenwriter and producer Dylan Meyer in April last year.

The Chronology of Water has received mixed reviews, with praise for Imogen Poots in the lead role as Lidia Yuknavitch, who wrote the 2011 memoir the film is based on, as well as for Stewart’s directing.

“Stewart’s debut might play as adolescent movie poetry – young in spirit, tripping over itself – but it’s also a throwback to the Nineties indie film scene, arguably the last gasp of the awkward aspiring auteur,” critic Xan Brooks argued for The Independent.

“As such, it looks more radical than it might have done in the past. It’s defiantly at odds with today’s risk-averse business model and a pure expression of the woman who made it as opposed to, say, a pin-sharp corporate commercial like Barbie. Gerwig travelled in one direction, from the grungy mumblecore movement to the mainstream.

“Stewart, though, is steering the opposite course, from Twilight to the arthouse, while daring the fans to stick with her, and it has made for a more fun, jolting journey. Her movie is heartfelt and unrefined and ever so slightly up itself. It’s altogether precious, in both senses of the word.”

Stewart remarked that the experience of directing had been liberating when compared to her work as an actor: “Actresses get treated like s***, I’ve got to tell you,” she told The Sunday Times.

“People think anyone could be an actress, but the first time I sat down to talk about my movie as a director, I thought, wow, this is a different experience, they are talking to me like I’m somebody with a brain.”

She admitted she was a “maniac” while working on the film and “barely existed outside of it but, “I’ve never felt more alive”.

Britain has replaced children with dogs – and it’s not healthy

Dogs are everywhere – not just where you might reasonably expect to find them, but in cafés, pubs, trains, offices, Airbnbs, yoga studios, bakeries, weddings, coworking spaces and anywhere else that once relied on the social contract of “indoors means humans only”.

One in three neighbourhoods in England now has more dogs than children. This signals something structural about how we are choosing to organise our lives, our affections and our sense of responsibility.

Britain’s birth rate is falling; the cost of housing is obscene; relationships and work are increasingly precarious. Into that gap has stepped the dog – emotionally rich, socially acceptable, instantly legible and, crucially, reversible in a way that children are not.

For a generation delaying parenthood, or opting out of it altogether, dogs have become emotional stand‑ins: proxy dependents that offer unconditional affection without the long arc of sacrifice, compromise and irreversible change that children demand. You can love them intensely, document them endlessly and still retain the comforting knowledge that, at some point, your life will be yours again.

The rise of the “dinkwad” – an online, self‑identifying term meaning “a couple with dual income, no kids, with a dog” – is often framed as a lifestyle quirk. In truth it is a response to pressure: an attempt to build meaning and intimacy in a system that has made long‑term human commitments feel risky and expensive. Dogs slot neatly into this emotional gap – asking for care but not inheritance, devotion but not intergenerational planning.

Social media, inevitably, has poured petrol onto the arrangement. Dogs now have birthday parties, themed outfits, personalised nutrition plans, professional photo shoots and brand partnerships – all presented as evidence of love rather than conspicuous emotional outsourcing. Online, dogs are spoken to like toddlers, called “my son”, “my baby” or “my whole world”, and wheeled through city streets in prams originally designed for babies.

Beneath the pastel captions and party hats is a more uncomfortable question, one we tend to avoid because it feels impolite, even cruel: is this actually fair on the dogs, the public or the cities we live in?

Many dogs are kept in small flats, left alone for long stretches, and dragged through human spaces that are noisy, crowded, unpredictable and actively hostile to an animal whose sensory world operates at a different pitch. We demand that they be calm, quiet, obedient and friendly but not intrusive; present but not disruptive; affectionate but never needy – grateful for whatever scraps of stimulation we can fit around our schedules.

Our idea of a “good dog” has become weirdly warped. The ideal dog is docile, compliant and silent – a creature that absorbs human chaos without ever reflecting it back. The perfect dog now resembles Reek from Game of Thrones: stripped of agency, desperate to please, grateful for crumbs of attention and praised most enthusiastically when it asks for nothing at all.

It has always struck me as odd that we celebrate dogs most when they behave least like animals and most like emotional furniture. Anything more dog‑like – excitement, boredom or resistance – is swiftly pathologised and treated as a personal failing of both animal and owner.

The pandemic supercharged this dynamic. Lockdowns created the illusion that we suddenly had time, space and emotional surplus for dogs; that working from home was permanent; that daily walks were rituals rather than obligations; that companionship could be sustainably built around an animal rather than other people. Puppies became symbols of hope – or, worse, a distraction – when the future itself felt indefinitely deferred.

Then life restarted. Offices reopened, commutes returned, social lives lurched back into existence. Britain was left with a generation of pandemic pooches whose owners began to realise that, actually, they didn’t want a dog after all.

Rescue centres filled up. Trainers became oversubscribed. Vet fees soared. Dog‑anxiety medication has – astoundingly – become commonplace. Streets have grown dirtier, parks more contested and the tension between dog owners and everyone else more brittle. The dog economy, meanwhile, has boomed: posh city centres are awash with luxury food, wellness products, daycare clubs and behavioural consultants, even as the dogs themselves seem increasingly stressed, overstimulated and medicated into tolerability.

Dog culture has also become oddly moralised. To question the ubiquity of dogs is to risk being labelled cold, joyless or mean.

But cities are shared spaces. Not everyone wants dogs under the table while they eat, beside them on the train, or brushing against their legs while they work. And not every dog wants to be there either. Somewhere along the line, consideration for animals became indistinguishable from indulgence – and indulgence became compulsory.

There is a deeper ethical question that tends to surface only briefly before being smothered by talk of love and companionship: does everyone actually need a dog?

For most of history, dogs had roles: they worked, guarded, hunted, herded, retrieved and protected. Even companion dogs existed within a broader framework of utility and shared purpose. Now many exist solely to absorb affection, regulate loneliness and provide a sense of meaning in lives stripped of other forms of communal structure.

That can be beautiful. It can also be profoundly one‑sided.

The modern dog is expected to be endlessly emotionally available, grateful for confinement and content with a life structured almost entirely around human convenience. When it fails at this impossible task, we train it harder, medicate it faster or resent it for not fulfilling the fantasy we purchased it to sustain.

None of this is to say dogs are the problem. They are doing exactly what they have always done: adapting to us. The problem is the scale, the speed and the cultural insistence that dog ownership is an unambiguous good – a moral upgrade, a sign of emotional maturity rather than, in some cases, a symptom of how thin our social fabric has become.

We may need fewer dogs. But we definitely need fewer illusions about what they are for, and greater honesty about what we are asking them to replace.

And perhaps, occasionally, it would be healthy to leave them at home.

What the future of travel looks like in 2026

Are we done with viral hotspots? According to travel comparison site KAYAK’s WTF (that’s What The Future, by the way) 2026 trends report, the era of copy-paste travel may finally be winding down. Not because people are travelling less – quite the opposite – but because they’re travelling differently.

Drawing on billions of user searches, an independent survey from more than 14,000 Gen Z and Millennial travellers – including over 2,000 next-gen UK travellers – and exclusive TikTok community insights, KAYAK’s report shows a shift away from headline destinations and performative travel. In their place? Shorter breaks, quieter cities, better value and experiences that feel personal rather than pre-approved.

Here’s what that looks like in practice, and where those trends could take you.

The next “it” destination, it turns out, is the one you haven’t already seen 50 times on your phone. According to KAYAK, 71 per cent of Gen Z and 75 per cent of Millennials actively want to visit places they’ve never been before, while TikTok posts tagged #hiddengems are up more than 50 per cent. Saturation is the new turn-off.

Cork fits that brief neatly. Long treated as a stopping point on the way to somewhere else, Ireland’s second city still flies under the algorithmic radar. Yet it rewards curiosity in small, satisfying ways: a walkable centre, a burgeoning food scene and easy access to coastline and countryside without the fanfare.

Base yourself near Shandon rather than around the busier quays, and start the day with a stroll along the River Lee before the city fully wakes up. For dinner, follow locals to the English Market at lunchtime, then head out to Ballycotton or Garretstown the next morning.

Travellers aren’t cancelling trips in 2026, they’re financing them more creatively. Nearly 30 per cent of Gen Z and Millennial travellers say installment plans will determine how many trips they take, while KAYAK data shows international fares from the UK sitting almost exactly where they were last year. Add a 52 per cent rise in the use of flight price alerts and the picture becomes clear: deal-hunting has gone mainstream.

This shift favours cities that deliver substance without sticker shock. Bilbao still fits the bill, but it’s the city’s everyday pleasures that offer the real value. Skip the Guggenheim café and eat at Gure Toki or Sorginzulo for pintxos done properly. Better still, cross the river into Deusto at lunchtime, where menus del día feel resolutely local and prices soften noticeably. Savvy travellers are stretching budgets without sacrificing experience, and places like Bilbao are making it easy for them.

Forget souvenirs. In 2026, it’s goosebumps people are packing for. More than half of travellers say natural wonders will shape their plans, and 34 per cent list awe-inspiring experiences as a top priority. That’s driving renewed interest in northern landscapes, but not always the obvious ones.

While Tromsø continues to top bucket lists, travellers looking for something fresher are turning towards Christchurch, New Zealand as a gateway rather than a destination in itself. From here, the night skies of the Canterbury plains offer serious dark-sky credentials without the premium price tags of more famous stargazing spots. Pair it with a drive to Lake Tekapo or a night at Mt John Observatory, and prepare to be amazed as the universe puts on one of its more impressive galactic light shows.

AI has officially replaced your mate who “went once and loved it”. Nearly six in 10 travellers say they’d change destination if AI suggested somewhere better, and half would do so for a better deal. Notably, 44 per cent of AI prompts are now about value, not inspiration.

AI can also steer travellers toward lesser-visited cities that prioritise authentic, local experiences over familiar tourist circuits. Fukuoka, in particular, remains one of the country’s most liveable and engaging destinations, offering a compelling blend of modern convenience and rich cultural heritage. Base yourself near Hakata Station for better-value hotels, then eat like a local at the yatai food stalls along the Naka River. It’s informal, affordable and far more revealing than a booked-out tasting menu. Leveraging AI-led planning tools helps today’s savvy travellers to unlock the city’s true potential, moving beyond generic guidebook recommendations.

Luxury, redefined, looks suspiciously like a good night’s sleep. KAYAK’s report shows 69 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials travel primarily for mental reset, while wellness-led luxury continues to rise. The emphasis has shifted from showing off to switching off.

The Greek island of Zakynthos excels here, particularly inland. Head to villages such as Kiliomenos, where evenings are cooler and dinner at family-run tavernas like Latas stretches lazily into the night. No playlists, no dress code, just plates refilled without fuss. For one in five travellers, it’s the small comforts that matter most: a quiet morning, decent coffee, and nowhere you’re expected to be. Wellness travel isn’t about spa breaks and luxury escapes anymore; it’s about coming back better than you left.

The big-city rush is out. In 2026, 84 per cent of younger travellers say they’d rather visit a smaller city or rural area than a major hub. Lower prices help, but the real appeal is authenticity that doesn’t need explaining.

Bastia, in northern Corsica, perfectly exemplifies the trend. Mornings on the old port unfold naturally with fishermen unloading and café chairs scraping into place. Walk up to the Citadelle before the heat builds, then lunch at U San Ghjuvà for unfussy Corsican cooking. These are places where life hasn’t been edited for visitors. Yes, social media still nudges people towards them, but only once they’re already halfway there.

In 2026, the destination is wherever the action is. An overwhelming 95 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials plan to travel for a major event, whether that’s a concert, a sporting tournament or a once-in-a-lifetime performance.

Cities that flex around calendars are winning. In Canada, Toronto works as a terrific base. But those thinking ahead are looking beyond the obvious to places like Halifax, where festivals, touring acts and sporting events are easier to access and far less inflated by demand. Stay near the waterfront, eat at The Bicycle Thief, and let the event anchor the trip rather than dominate it.

Over half of travellers say slower travel helps clear their head, and #slowtravel content has surged by almost 330 per cent on TikTok. But the aim isn’t inactivity, more a break from decision-making.

The Azores remain a benchmark, but similar benefits can be found in places like Praia in Cape Verde. The rhythm is gentle, the beaches walkable, and long lunches at Quintal da Música turn into evenings almost by accident. Headspace holidays aren’t about ticking boxes, they’re about removing friction and the demand for constant optimisation.

Adventure hasn’t disappeared, it’s simply grown up. Nearly one in four travellers now combine light outdoor activity with proper rest, while searches for amenities like terraces, hot tubs and gyms continue to rise. The Great Outdoors is now more likely to be paired with a Quite Decent bottle of wine.

Hilo, on Hawaii’s Big Island, captures that softer approach to adventure perfectly. Base yourself here and mornings might mean walking the edge of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park or taking an easy hike through the stunning scenery of Akaka Falls rainforest. Afternoons are for slowing down: soaking in naturally warmed ocean pools, lingering over poke bowls or fresh fish, and letting yourself reset.

Who says holidays have to be long? Nearly two-thirds of travellers plan to take several shorter trips in 2026, with searches for one-to-four-day breaks continuing to rise. The appeal is immediacy: quick resets, minimal planning and maximum reward.

Milan makes for an excellent Nanocation. Trains run on time, neighbourhoods are compact, and finding good food rarely requires much research. Rather than chasing the Duomo and moving on, spend a night in areas like Isola or Porta Venezia, where the city feels lived-in rather than visited. Grab a seat for aperitivo along the Navigli as the working day winds down, eat late without ceremony, and walk everywhere. Milan rewards restraint; do it right, and even 24 hours can feel like a proper break.

With billions of user searches across its platforms, KAYAK helps travellers find their perfect flight, stay, rental car or holiday package. Download the app here and start exploring.

How weight-loss jabs are changing the way we spend money

Weight-loss jabs are not only transforming people’s bodies but also people’s spending habits.

Around 2.5 million people are currently estimated to be on the medications in the UK.

The drugs, such as semaglutide – marketed under names such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus – and tirzepatide, marketed under the name Mounjaro, work by mimicking the natural hormone which regulates blood sugar, appetite and digestion.

Those who buy the injections, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, privately can end up spending hundreds of pounds a month for years.

But with the drugs only set to increase in popularity, below, we take a look at the new trends that are emerging, and how businesses are adapting to a new kind of consumer.

There is a growing trend among major retailers to introduce new ranges specifically catering to consumers using weight-loss jabs.

Online supermarket Ocado has started a new “weight management” range, which includes “GLP-1-friendly products” that are portion-controlled and nutrient-rich, such as a tiny steak and “powdered greens” supplement.

Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, and Greggs have already launched ranges of products aimed at people on the drugs. The Co-op is also selling “mini meals” – 250g to 280g pots “inspired by global cuisines”.

A Morgan Stanley survey last year found that 63 per cent of Ozempic users were spending less when they dined out in the US – not because they were broke but because they could not stomach the same multi-course meals they once did.

Nima Safaei, the owner of 64 Old Compton Street, 40 Dean Street and the upcoming 27 Old Compton Street, has noticed a marked change in customer behaviour.

“More customers are coming in just for drinks or ordering a couple of starters to share, and we’re seeing fewer three-course meals,” he explained. “Sometimes we do wonder why people come in if they’re not particularly hungry, but we understand that it’s about the social experience and enjoying an evening with friends.”

This has sparked the rise of ‘Mounjaro menus’, with some high-end restaurants adjusting menus, introducing half-portions, smaller plates, more nutrient-dense options and “luxury bites” such as canapes, caviar and oysters, which cater to diners who want quality but not quantity.

People on the jabs have also reported reducing the number of takeaways they get, or stopping ordering them entirely.

It is not just the food orders that are shrinking – so are the drink bills. Many weight-loss jab users report reduced cravings for alcohol, a side effect that is beginning to show up in restaurants and bars.

Mr Safaei has noticed this too. “Some guests are drinking less overall, skipping pre-dinner cocktails or opting for lighter options like spritzes or lower-ABV wines,” he said. “That said, people still want to enjoy themselves, and the social aspect of having a drink with friends hasn’t disappeared – it’s just evolving.”

For restaurants, this is more concerning than a few hardly touched mains. Alcohol sales are one of the biggest money-makers, often propping up the slim profit margins on food. Toby Clark, EMEA VP of consulting at Morgan Stanley, warned that this could be one of the most significant industry shifts. “It feels as if GLP-1 could be a real threat to the sector, especially given the extensive reports of users reducing alcohol intake. Alcohol is a key driver of profitability in many restaurants, so there’s a potential double-whammy of reduced income from food and from drinks revenue.”

With fewer people drinking and fewer ordering full meals, restaurants are looking at a problem they cannot simply fix with a new tasting menu.

While the food sector is struggling, the fashion industry looks set to benefit from the increasing use of weight-loss jabs.

As people lose weight, they will need to buy more clothes, either new or on secondhand platforms, and they may also sell their old garments on those sites.

A Savile Row boss said the boom in the use of weight-loss drugs is having “massive repercussions” for the tailoring industry.

Sean Dixon, co-founder of tailor Richard James, said its cutters were having to make big adjustments or remake suits entirely because of some customers’ rapid weight loss.

Recent academic studies have highlighted the necessity of exercise and dietary support for individuals using these drugs. Research from the University of Oxford indicated that those on fat-loss jabs require continuous assistance to prevent weight regain. Separately, findings from University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge suggested that users of these medications could be susceptible to muscle loss.

The chief executive of a national gym chain revealed that the rise of weight-loss medications is driving increased demand across its fitness centres. Will Orr, who heads low-cost gym chain The Gym Group, said the company was “absolutely” observing the impact of GLP-1s as a “tailwind and contributory factor” for its business.

Meanwhile, doctors have previously warned about “Ozempic face”, a possible side effect of using the drugs both as a weight-loss method and without the proper medical supervision, as users have shared their experiences with accelerated ageing.

As for whether the side effect can be reversed, dermatologists said the only way to do so in a non-invasive way is to inject fillers, which can cost thousands.

Iran unveils mural warning of retaliation against US after Trump threats

A new mural unveiled in a central Tehran square contains a direct warning by Iran to the United States to not attempt a military strike on the country.

The painted image of several damaged planes on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier bears the slogan: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.”

The unveiling of the mural in Enghelab Square comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and accompanying warships move towards the region. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the ships are being moved “just in case” he decides to take action.

“We have a massive fleet heading in that direction and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump said Thursday.

Enghelab Square is used for gatherings called by the state, and authorities change its mural based on national occasions. On Saturday, the commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned that his force is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger.”

Tension between the U.S. and Iran has spiked in the wake of a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests that saw thousands of people killed and tens of thousands arrested. Trump had threatened military action if Iran continued to kill peaceful protesters or carried out mass executions of those detained.

There have been no further protests for days, and Trump claimed recently that Tehran had halted the executions of about 800 arrested protesters – a claim Iran’s top prosecutor called “completely false.”

But Trump has indicated he is keeping his options open, saying on Thursday that any military action would make last June’s U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites “look like peanuts.”

U.S. Central Command said on social media that its Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle now has a presence in the Middle East, noting the fighter jet “enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability.”

Similarly, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said Thursday that it deployed its Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar “in a defensive capacity.”

The protests in Iran began on December 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Iran’s theocracy, which does not tolerate dissent.

The death toll reported by activists has continued to rise since the end of the demonstrations, as information trickles out despite a more than two-week internet blackout – the most comprehensive in Iran’s history.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency on Sunday put the death toll at 5,459, with the number expected to increase. It says more than 40,800 people have been arrested.

The group’s figures have been accurate in previous unrest and rely on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The AP has not been able to independently verify the toll.

Iran’s government has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest “terrorists.” In the past, Iran’s theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.