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  • EasyJet probed in Italy over alleged unfair baggage pricing

    EasyJet probed in Italy over alleged unfair baggage pricing


    Published on
    26/05/2026 – 11:05 GMT+2

    The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), Italy’s antitrust authority, announced on Tuesday that it opened a formal probe into easyJet Airline Company Limited over alleged unfair commercial practices.

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    The case centres on how the carrier structures and presents baggage fees on its website and mobile app, with the regulator alleging that passengers were routinely given a distorted picture of what they were actually paying.
    According to the AGCM, easyJet’s platform set bundled checked baggage and sports equipment for round trips as the automatic default, presenting only an overall average price for the service, even when customers had no intention of purchasing it for both legs of their journey.
    The regulator contends that anyone wishing to add luggage for one leg only was forced to interrupt the booking process to override this setting, a step most consumers would be unlikely to notice or navigate.
    The investigation will assess whether easyJet’s booking system created unclear pricing conditions and limited consumers’ ability to make fully informed choices.
    At the time of writing, easyJet has not publicly commented on the case.

    Italy’s AGCM previous actions
    This is not the first time easyJet has appeared before Italian authorities.
    In May 2021, the AGCM imposed a €2.8 million fine on the airline alongside Ryanair and Volotea, after all three failed to offer cash reimbursements for flights cancelled when Italy lifted its COVID-19 travel restrictions, issuing vouchers instead.
    EasyJet appealed, but the Lazio Regional Administrative Court in Rome rejected the challenge in February 2025.
    The AGCM has shown no hesitation in pursuing the sector more broadly.
    In December 2025, it fined Ryanair €255 million for abusing its dominant position in air travel to and from Italy.
    The Italian authority concluded the carrier had deployed an “elaborate strategy” to obstruct travel agencies from purchasing its flights, including through facial-recognition checks, payment blocks and mass account deletions, a ruling Ryanair immediately vowed to appeal.

  • Oadby community pub reopens following transformational refurbishment

    Oadby community pub reopens following transformational refurbishment



    Popular community pub, the Fox on 21 London road in Oadby will officially reopened on Wednesday 20th May following a transformational combined investment of £250,000 from experienced licensees, Neil Fowkes and Paul Wenman and Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub company.This refurbishment breathes a new lease of life into the Fox to elevate and modernise the overall look and feel of the pub — whilst still retaining it’s original, characterful features such as the open fireplace — ultimately enabling the licensees to further cement it as the go-to community hub for local residents.Internally, the pub has been completely transformed to include brand new fixtures, fittings and flooring throughout. This includes a brand new main bar, pool room, darts room and a cosy lounge area to elevate the Fox’s atmosphere and further expand its offering to ensure it welcomes everyone.Externally, the Fox has been completely revamped to include brand new lighting and signage to greet customers.Passionate licensees, Neil and Paul, bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pub with 40 combined years’ experience between them. Going forward the licensees are committed to creating a family-friendly hub that brings people together and supports all aspects of community life.Neil and Paul, licensees at the Fox, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted with the results of the refurbishment and we were excited for the customers to see the updates been made.We have loved every minute of our time at the Fox so far and we would like to thank everyone, from our family and friends to our customers and of course the team at Admiral Taverns, for all their ongoing support. We look forward to everything the future holds for this fantastic community pub!”Going forward, Neil and Paul will be hosting a busy schedule of regular entertainment for the community to enjoy including regular performers to mark special occasions. In the future they hope to run weekly quiz and bingo nights too.As part of their mission to giving back to the local community, they will also be hosting regular fundraising events/community initiatives.Following the refurbishment, the pub will host an impressive range of drinks including an extensive portfolio of premium drinks such as Amstel, Cruzcampo, Moretti, Orchard Thieves, John Smiths Extra Smooth and Murphys Stout. The pub also offers a range of wines and spirits for customers to enjoy.The pub also plans to introduce a food menu in the future, which would include dishes such as fish and chips and burgers.The pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub company with c. 1,365 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.Jenna Trudgill, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, added: “We are delighted to have Neil and Paul at the pub and we are confident they will continue to build a really strong, community-focused local that residents will enjoy.”On behalf of myself and everyone at Admiral Taverns, I wish Neil and Paul and the entire team at the Fox the best of luck in the future.”Admiral Taverns (“Admiral”) is the UK’s number one community pub group. Headquartered in Chester; the Group operates a national estate of c. 1,365 predominantly wet-led community pubs. Admiral’s unique operational approach has earnt industry recognition with the Group winning Best Community Pub Operator at the 2024 Publican Awards, whilst also being shortlisted for Best Partnership Pub Company (501+ Sites). In 2019, 2016 and 2013, Admiral Taverns won Best Leased and Tenanted Pub Company at the Publican Awards and ranked highly commended as Best Community Pub Operator in 2017. The Group has also been consistently highly rated by licensees in the industry’s independent annual Tenant Track survey, exceeding the scores of all its national peers.Polly Clarke/Amy Keane/Sarah PattonThird-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.

  • Cambridge University student sets world fidget spinner record

    Cambridge University student sets world fidget spinner record



    As part of a university module, Goh used academic papers to inform his experiments and help him figure out a formula for a world record fidget spinner.It has lightweight, hollow aluminium at its core and tungsten around the edges to store kinetic energy and help it spin for longer.”It involves a lot of data collection to come up with 3D models, which I then make in the workshop,” Goh said.”Differential equations have helped me a lot to refine the formula, although there is no actual analytical solution, because technically it’s unsolvable.”He said he now had his sights set on more Guinness World Records.

  • Planned Burn Halts Staffordshire Reef Road Fire

    Planned Burn Halts Staffordshire Reef Road Fire


    When a bushfire reached a planned burn area in Ross Creek State Forest in February 2024, the conditions on the ground helped make a huge differencePrepared by DEECAAt approximately 11 pm on 13 February 2024, the familiar beep of a Vic Emergency app alert sounded for residents just west of Ballarat. A bushfire spread from private property into the Ross Creek State Forest, along Staffordshire Reef Road.By 2 am the next morning the threat to communities was reduced, and by early the following day, the fire was contained.The reason Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and CFA were able to control the blaze so quickly?A multi-year planned burn operation along Careys Road, adjacent to the forest, that fire behaviour analysts from both FFMVic and CFA have been able to conclude reduced the fire’s intensity and helped halt its spread.’The fire ran into a planned burn area from 2023 and really dropped the intensity, basically stopping it in its tracks and enabling us to track the edge of the fire and round it up,’ said Sam Basham, FFMVic’s Manager of District Forest and Fire Planning in Ballarat.Sam’s job is to oversee fuel management works in the Midlands District, including planned burning and mechanical fuel management like slashing and mowing.He was one of the first on the ground at the Staffordshire Reef Road fire, witnessing embers spotting far ahead of the blaze and heading towards houses.The Careys Road planned burn – part of a network of fuel reduction burns in Ross Creek State Forest – gave Sam and the crew a safe place to carry out a backburn.Backburning involves lighting a new, independent fire along a designated control line – such as a road, track, or cleared break – ahead of an approaching fire front, removing fuel so that the fire has nothing left to burn.’The Careys Road burn is part of a broader strategy. We’ve got several burns in this location, and they all work together to create a barrier between the private property and the public and state forest interface.’Assessing the impact’Following the fire, we reached out to our CFA counterparts, and our own investigators within FFMVic, to determine how much of a role this burn played in the fire’s containment,’ said Sam.Musa Kilinic, a Predictive Services Specialist in Fire Risk at CFA, visited the fireground to assess the impact.’We looked at the fuels on the ground, as well as the weather patterns and fire spread forecast,’ he said.A reconstruction of the fire by Musa and his team of scientists showed that the planned burn directly reduced the fire spread and intensity.’Most of the embers that landed in the planned burn area quickly self-extinguished – and that was directly related to the low fuel availability in the planned burn area.’If the planned burn hadn’t been done, the fire could’ve potentially spread several more hours, at rates anywhere between 100 and 300 metres per hour.’This means that the fire size ultimately could’ve been anywhere between 40 and 150 hectares greater than what actually occurred.’Right across the state, planned burns like this one on Carey Road are part of a specialised bushfire risk reduction strategy that helps keep communities safe.

    /CFA News Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

  • Liverpool’s Best Young Artist Revealed



    Liverpool City Council has officially launched the NEXT 2026 Exhibition at its new permanent home, Yellamundie – Liverpool City Library and Gallery, with Alysia Jerochim from Amity College announced as the winner of this year’s NEXT Exhibition Award.Alysia received the top honour for her ceramic sculpture Fragmented Humanity, selected for its strong conceptual approach and technical execution.”My artwork is called “Fragmented Humanity” and has references to Antony Gormley’s “Field” and Ai Wei Wei’s “Sunflower seeds. This work is 700 ceramic small ceramic figures. The work encourages the viewer to reflect on their own perspectives and the way they judge others.”I wanted my artwork to connect with the audience emotionally and give them a moment to think about difference and foster understanding,” she said.NEXT 2026 showcases artworks by 21 HSC Visual Arts students from 12 schools across the Liverpool Local Government Area, highlighting the depth of emerging creative talent within the community.Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said the exhibition demonstrates the vital role local government plays in supporting culture and creativity.”Local government is often described as being about roads, rates and rubbish, but initiatives like NEXT show our role goes far beyond that. It’s about relationships, representation and real opportunity: creating spaces where young people feel seen, where creativity is celebrated, and where the next generation can thrive.””This exhibition gives our young artists a platform at the very beginning of their careers, and we are incredibly proud to support them,” he said.Set within one of Australia’s most culturally and linguistically diverse communities, NEXT offers a unique opportunity to experience the ideas, stories and creative approaches of young artists, providing a glimpse into the future of Australian art.This year’s launch featured guest speaker Monica Rani Rudhar, a NEXT alumnus who has gone on to achieve national and international recognition, including exhibiting in the Sydney Biennale.Mayor Mannoun said Monica’s journey highlights the long-term impact of the program. “Monica is a wonderful example of how NEXT can foster emerging talent. From exhibiting here as a student to returning as an established artist, her story reflects the strength and diversity of our community.”Born to Indian and Romanian migrant parents, Monica’s work explores identity, migration and belonging; mirroring the rich cultural fabric of Liverpool.The 2026 exhibition also marks the permanent relocation of NEXT to Yellamundie Gallery, ensuring the program continues to engage directly with the thousands of young people who visit the library each year.Yellamundie has quickly become a cornerstone of Liverpool’s cultural life, with its multi award-winning design and growing reputation as a destination for learning, connection and creativity.The NEXT Exhibition is open to the public and free to attend during library opening hours.Dates: Closes Sunday 19 July 2026Location: Yellamundie Gallery, Level B2, Liverpool City Library, 52 Scott Street, Liverpool, 2170Weekdays: 0900-2000. Saturday: 0900-1600. Sunday: 1200-1600.Entry: Free

  • Plan for 135 homes near Markfield to be decided

    Plan for 135 homes near Markfield to be decided



    According to planning documents, 40% of homes on the 6.39-hectare (15.8-acre) site would be classed as affordable. A report submitted to the council by the developer said the scheme would be a “highly sustainable residential development”.”By approving the development proposed, a development will be brought forward which contributes towards sustaining and increasing the vitality and viability of the local services and facilities,” it added.The application will be subject to a Section 106 legal agreement in which the developer will pay towards services in the area, including £659,340 to improve Field Head roundabout, according to planning documents.

  • The ‘historic gem’ town where popular wartime sitcom was filmed

    The ‘historic gem’ town where popular wartime sitcom was filmed



    This wartime sitcom was very popular in the 1960s and 1970sDads Army was filmed in Thetford(Image: Mirrorpix)Many places across the UK have been used for backdrops to some of people’s favourite TV shows. Any fan of a show loves to go visit the locations where they were filmed, and act just as if they are in the fictional universe they watch.Not far from Cambridge and only a 51-minute drive is Thetford in Norfolk, and this was the set of a popular British sitcom from the 1960s and 1970s. During its nine-year run, Thetford became the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea, the home of Dad’s Army.Many of the town’s outside locations were used in the BBC sitcom. For example, Thetford Guildhall acted as Walmington-on-Sea’s town hall.Nether Row, which is a row of cottages, featured in several episodes of the programme, as well as Mill Lane which was a backdrop for many of the show’s comedic scenes. There was also the Palace Cinema that doubled as a cinema in the show, and it was also the real-life spot where the cast and crew used to watch weekly films.Today, there is a museum dedicated to Dad’s Army in Thetford. It was opened in 2007 by the show’s creator David Croft.Inside, there is a reconstruction of Captain Mainwaring’s church hall office, several display areas, a shop and the Marigold Tea Room. There is also a host of historic photographs on show, alongside other memorabilia.As well as being the centre of all things Dad’s Army, Thetford has much more on offer. The town is dubbed a “historic gem” by Thetford Town Council, and was also previously the ancient capital of East Anglia.It’s considered the perfect place for not only history buffs, but nature lovers as well. It’s surrounded by stunning landscapes waiting to be explored.There is Thetford Forest, which is the UK’s biggest manmade lowland forest. It’s made up of pines, heathland and broadleaves, providing the “ideal setting for a great day out”, according to Forestry England.

  • Bhatti is man of the moment as Alsager clinch first NSSCL Premier B victory

    Bhatti is man of the moment as Alsager clinch first NSSCL Premier B victory



    Round up of all the news from North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier B as Bagnall Norton, Knypersley, Elworth, Norton in Hales and Hem Heath also winKashif Bhatti starred with bat and ball in Alsager’s North Staffs and South Cheshire League Premier B win at Wood Lane.(Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)Alsager are off the mark at the fifth time of asking in NSSCL Premier B after an eight-wicket triumph at Wood Lane.Alsager were relegated from the top flight at the end of last season – and hadn’t made the start they would have wanted to life back in the fourth tier.A four-game winless run left them bottom of the early standings, but they finally sampled the winning feeling on their trip to Megacre.It was hosts Wood Lane who batted first, but they couldn’t make the most of the sunshine as they were bowled out for 167.Martin Dawson (33), Ben Forster (32no) and Jake Thompson (22) made the most progress with the bat for Wood Lane. Kashif Bhatti scooped 3-28 for Alsager and there were a couple of wickets apiece for Tom Bason and Lewis Pickford.Bhatti was then at the forefront of Alsager’s successful run chase after the interval.After James Bloor made 27, Bhatti took centre stage for the away side.He hit eight fours and two sixes in his 61 not out – receiving support from Muazammil Nizam, who made an unbeaten 40 – as Alsager crossed the line in the 32nd over.Hem Heath seconds were another side celebrating a maiden league win after they won at their Stone SP counterparts. Stone SP set a tough challenge for their rivals, though, as they amassed 219-4 from their 45 overs in the formative stages.Half-centuries from John Cheadle and Reuben Hall helped them to break through the 200-run barrier.Cheadle’s 88 included five fours and one six, with Hall hitting eight boundaries and one maximum in his unbeaten 87. Jack Jones took two of the wickets to fall.READ MORE: Newcastle & Hartshill shrug off awful start to beat Hem Heath in NSSCL Premier AHem Heath rose to the challenge superbly on the resumption, with captain Ben Lucas leading the charge. He compiled 65, featuring seven fours, to give his side the platform to go on and chase down that tough target.His lead was followed by Nazakat Ali (43), Saj Patel (40) and Jaidel Richardson (28) as Hem Heath banked a three-wicket win in the penultimate over. Tom Caton claimed two wickets.Cheadle’s unblemished start to the league season came to an end with defeat at Norton in Hales.The Moorlanders had opened up with four straight victories, but were on the wrong end of the verdict in Saturday’s clash.Sam Cliffe’s 52, which contained five fours and one maximum, formed the backbone of Cheadle’s 193-7 in the first half.Matt Goodwin and Jack Hassall chipped in with 38 and 34 respectively for the visitors. Chris Dyer (3-43) and Salman Khan (3-47) did the bulk of the work with the ball for the Tractor Boys.Norton in Hales slumped to 32-4 in reply as it appeared that Cheadle’s winning run would be extended.However, Khan and Sajith Priyal De Silva Lamahewage had other ideas as they forged an unbroken alliance of 167 to see the home side past the post inside 39 overs.Khan walked off unbeaten on 106, having hit 12 fours and four sixes, with Lamahewage striking seven fours and three sixes in his 70 not out.Goodwin had caused early issues for Norton in Hales and eventually finished with figures of 3-38.Elworth made it five wins out of five by winning at home against Rode Park & Lawton. The visitors reached 216-6 from their allocation in the early part of the afternoon.O Gallimore (39), T Stirk (33), L Bent (32), J Heath (31no) and L Evans (23) led them to that score.J McKay and S Morgan shared four of the wickets to fall.Elworth then produced an excellent team effort to pocket a four-wicket win with nine balls remaining.A Banks hit eight fours in a top score of 52 to set the tone for the Cheshire outfit.J Stephenson (34), H Newton (32no), A Raheja (30), R Ballard (23no) and C Regan (22) were also in fine touch to chip away at the scoreboard. L Evans and M Valentine took two wickets apiece.Knypersley had a fine day on the road as they won at Barlaston.Knypersley were set 184 for victory and looked to be cruising as Shoaib Akhtar’s 52 – featuring eight fours and two sixes – Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti’s 45 and 23 apiece from Cameron Allen and Jack Muni, saw them sitting pretty on 150-3.Barlaston fought back as Fida Hussain scooped 3-18 and Ethan Squire picked up 3-39, but Knype managed to secure a two-wicket win in the penultimate over.Earlier in the day, Ben Sharp’s 63 was instrumental in the home side reaching 183 all out. Sharp’s knock contained six fours and one six, with Jack Davies (43) lending valuable support. Bhatti and Joe Dutton snared 3-17 and 3-47 respectively for Knypersley. Dominic Cumberbatch also struck twice.Bagnall Norton won by five wickets at Ashcombe Park.Hosts Ashcombe Park had Asif Raza (39), Phil Clowes (28no) and Haroon Mahmood (19) to thank for steering them to 150 all out.Hafiz Suleman (3-16) and Morgan Murray-Williams (3-20) took three wickets apiece and there were a couple of scalps for Alex Dodd.Euan Hurst (22) and Matthew Kenvyn (15) made starts in reply, but Bagnall Norton were teetering on 68-5. But there were no further alarms for the visitors as Justin Mould and Suleman produced a matchwinning partnership.Mould hit five fours in his 54 not out, with Suleman adding an unbeaten 36, as Bagnall Norton clinched a five-wicket win in the 41st over. Raza took two of the wickets to fall.

  • Travel chaos live as Merseyrail services disrupted and traffic gridlocked

    Travel chaos live as Merseyrail services disrupted and traffic gridlocked



    Good afternoon,It is the hottest day of the year so far and it has coincided with a bank holiday. Thousands of people have headed to train stations as they head to beaches and parks to enjoy the heat.This has led to some services being affected as Merseyrail deals with high passenger numbers. The Liverpool Central to Chester service will run non-stop between Birkenhead Central and HootonThe Liverpool Central to Chester service will run non-stop between Birkenhead Central and Hooton, skipping Green Lane, Rock Ferry, Bebington, Port Sunlight, Spital, Bromborough Rake, Bromborough, and Eastham Rake.This is known as a “semi-fast service”, used by Merseyrail to help restore a disrupted timetable. This means that trains will run directly between two appointed stations, not stopping at stations in between.All other services on the Ellesmere Port, West Kirkby, New Brighton, Southport, Ormskirk and Hunts Cross, and Headbolt Lane lines are running as scheduled.A Merseyrail spokesman posted on X: “Due to the large number of passengers travelling, services on the Chester line face cancellations or alterations.”

  • Leicestershire council set to increase parking and wedding fees

    Leicestershire council set to increase parking and wedding fees



    The proposals include raising the price of a season parking ticket at council-run country parks from £85 to £95 as well as £10 increases for some register office ceremony fees.The report also suggests the council could increase meal prices at its staff restaurant at County Hall in Glenfield to generate £80,000.Kevin Crook, deputy council leader and cabinet member for culture and heritage, said: “Our efficiency review is about gripping our budget and making every pound we spend work harder. “It’s a major project, leaving no stone unturned, and includes increasing fees where it makes sense to do so, with all money collected going back into running and improving our services, including country parks.”Deborah Taylor, leader of the council’s Conservative opposition group, said: “This is Reform putting up the costs of services.”It’s a political choice.”They chose to increase council tax by 2.99% and made a big point of that. “Then they have hidden taxes like these increases to make up the difference.”