Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Nobody should be left to struggle with their mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E.

“These new centres will be a lifeline for so many,” he said.

“They will bring NHS services closer to home, making it easier to get support before problems get worse and ensuring those in crisis get the right care in the right place.”

The chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, Andy Bell, said he welcomed the announcement on the whole – although was concerned that the mental health emergency departments had not been properly tested yet.

He also said children and young people, who will be able to use these services, needed their own dedicated hubs.

But he said he was “delighted” that the government was taking action on mental health after it had been neglected by successive governments for too long.

“This must now be backed up by investment, most crucially in the workforce needed to provide effective mental health care,” he said.

Stephen Jones, of the Royal College of Nursing, said he agreed investment in staff would be crucial if the new centres were going to cope with demand.

“More services closer to people’s homes are a crucial step towards more humane care,” he said.

But he added: “To succeed, both will need specialist mental health nurses at the centre.”

The Department of Health said that the initiative is backed by £343m and the first sites will open in autumn this year, with “further facilities following from March 2027”.

Southwest Airlines is turning to humor, nostalgia, and prime-time spectacle to usher in one of the most consequential changes. During the Super Bowl on February 8, 2026, the Dallas-based carrier will debut a new advertisement titled “Boarding Royale,” a national commercial designed to introduce — and soften — the airline’s transition from open seating to assigned seats. The ad will stream nationally on NBCUniversal’s Peacock platform and air on local cable television in six key Southwest markets: Dallas, Austin, San Diego, Chicago, Denver, and Honolulu.

Developed in partnership with longtime creative agency GSD&M, Boarding Royale is Southwest’s most high-profile attempt yet to reassure passengers that while its boarding process may be changing, the airline’s personality and customer-focused ethos are not.

The commercial lands at a pivotal moment for Southwest. Once defined by its simplicity — no assigned seats, no baggage fees, and straightforward fares — the airline is now in the midst of a sweeping transformation driven by changing consumer preferences, competitive pressures, and investor demands. Assigned seating, long resisted by Southwest leadership, officially applies to flights operating on or after January 27, 2026, marking the end of one of the most distinctive boarding models in U.S. aviation.

According to industry publication ADWEEK, Boarding Royale playfully depicts the chaos of Southwest’s former open seating system, likening the boarding process to a frantic “boarding school-style” scramble. Passengers rush down jet bridges, jockey for aisle and window seats, and engage in subtle competitive behavior familiar to anyone who has flown the airline over the past several decades.

The ad then contrasts that energy with a calmer, more orderly boarding experience enabled by assigned seating. The message is clear: the old days were fun, but the future will be smoother.

In a press release accompanying the campaign, Southwest emphasized that humor remains central to its brand identity even as the airline modernizes.

“Southwest’s bold personality and humor have always been unique in the industry, and no matter the seat configuration, the legendary hospitality that customers expect at Southwest remains,” the airline said.

The Super Bowl, one of the most-watched television events in the United States, offers Southwest a massive stage to reframe a change that has sparked intense debate among customers and aviation observers alike.

Despite the lighthearted tone of the ad, the rollout of assigned seating has not been universally smooth.

Passenger feedback during the first days of the new system has been mixed, with some travelers praising the predictability of knowing their seat before boarding, while others have highlighted operational growing pains. Complaints have surfaced about competitive gate behavior as passengers attempt to secure better boarding positions, late seat reassignments caused by aircraft swaps, and frequent seat-switching negotiations once onboard.

Several customers have taken to social media to argue that the system, at least initially, undermines the simplicity Southwest once championed. Others, however, report calmer cabins, less anxiety about boarding order, and fewer confrontations over seat saving — a long-running point of contention under the open seating model.

Industry analysts note that such turbulence is typical when airlines introduce fundamental changes to core processes, particularly those tied to long-standing brand identity.

For decades, Southwest’s open seating policy allowed passengers to choose any available seat once onboard, with boarding order determined by check-in time or priority status. The system was central to the airline’s fast turnarounds, operational efficiency, and marketing differentiation.

But market conditions have shifted.

In July 2024, Southwest chief executive officer Bob Jordan revealed that internal market research showed eight out of ten Southwest customers now prefer assigned seating. Many travelers, particularly infrequent flyers and families, said the open seating process caused unnecessary stress and uncertainty.

The data gave leadership cover to pursue a change that investors had been advocating for years. Activist pressure and shareholder expectations intensified after Southwest underperformed rivals financially in the post-pandemic recovery. While competitors benefited from robust ancillary revenue streams — including seat selection fees — Southwest’s all-in pricing model increasingly looked out of step with industry norms.

Assigned seating, executives argue, enables more flexible pricing, higher revenue per passenger, and better alignment with customer expectations shaped by other major carriers.

The shift to assigned seating is closely tied to Southwest’s new fare structure, which replaces the airline’s historically simple fare lineup with four bundles: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra.

Under the new system:

Basic fare passengers will receive an automatically assigned seat approximately 24 hours before departure, unless they choose to pay extra to select a specific seat in advance.

Choice fares include complimentary seat selection at booking.

Choice Preferred allows passengers to choose seats closer to the front of the aircraft.

Choice Extra includes access to extra-legroom seating and additional perks.

Southwest says the structure offers flexibility and transparency, but critics argue it introduces complexity that undermines the airline’s long-standing appeal. What was once a single-class cabin with minimal upselling now resembles the tiered experience offered by legacy carriers.

Wall Street’s response to assigned seating has been broadly positive. Southwest’s stock rose following confirmation of the change, reflecting investor optimism that the airline will finally close its revenue gap with competitors such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines.

Yet some analysts caution that financial gains may come at the cost of brand dilution.

“Southwest built extraordinary loyalty by being different,” said one aviation consultant. “The risk isn’t that assigned seating doesn’t work — it’s that Southwest becomes just another airline in a crowded, commoditized market.”

Longtime customers have voiced concerns that the airline’s signature simplicity is being replaced with nickel-and-dime pricing strategies similar to those it once criticized. For travelers who valued Southwest precisely because it rejected industry norms, the cumulative effect of recent changes may test brand loyalty.

Assigned seating is not the first pillar of Southwest’s identity to fall.

Last summer, the airline ended its decades-old policy of allowing all passengers to check two bags for free. Under the new rules, baggage allowance depends on fare type, elite status, or additional fees — a move that shocked many customers and sparked widespread backlash.

The free checked-bag policy had been a powerful marketing tool, enshrined in Southwest’s iconic “Bags Fly Free” slogan. Its removal signaled a broader willingness by leadership to abandon tradition in pursuit of revenue optimization.

Executives defended the decision by pointing to rising operational costs and changing customer behavior, noting that many passengers now travel with carry-on luggage only. Still, the move marked a psychological turning point in how travelers perceive the airline.

Southwest has also reworked its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, further aligning it with demand-based pricing models common across the industry.

In March 2025, the airline reduced points earned on its lowest fare class, Wanna Get Away, introduced variable redemption pricing tied to demand, and adjusted qualification thresholds for A-List elite status.

While the changes lowered barriers to elite status for some frequent flyers, they also reduced the value proposition for budget-conscious travelers who previously relied on predictable award pricing.

Together, the loyalty overhaul, baggage fees, and assigned seating represent a comprehensive strategic pivot — one that repositions Southwest from an outlier to a more conventional full-service carrier with low-cost roots.

Boarding Royale attempts to reconcile these changes by acknowledging the past while promoting the future. By poking fun at the chaos of open seating rather than dismissing it, Southwest signals respect for its heritage even as it moves on.

Marketing experts say the approach is savvy.

“Southwest isn’t pretending open seating didn’t matter,” said one branding strategist. “They’re saying, ‘We had fun, it worked for a long time, but now we’re evolving.’ Humor lowers defenses in a way a corporate announcement never could.”

The Super Bowl platform amplifies that message, reaching tens of millions of viewers in a single moment. For Southwest, it is both a farewell and a reintroduction.

Whether assigned seating ultimately strengthens or weakens Southwest’s position remains an open question. Early operational hiccups may fade, and customer acceptance could grow as systems stabilize. At the same time, the airline must carefully manage the risk of alienating its most loyal passengers.

What is clear is that Southwest is no longer defined solely by what it refuses to do. Instead, it is actively reshaping itself to compete in an industry where personalization, segmentation, and ancillary revenue are increasingly unavoidable.

As Boarding Royale makes its Super Bowl debut, Southwest Airlines will be asking passengers to laugh, reminisce, and — most importantly — trust that even without open seating, the airline’s spirit still has a seat reserved.

Israel has announced it will open the key Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt in the coming days to allow Palestinians to leave the territory.

Israeli military body Cogat said exits would be “facilitated through co-ordination with Egypt, following security approval by Israel and under the supervision of the European Union mission”. It added that this would be “similar to the mechanism that operated in January”, when the crossing opened during a previous ceasefire.

An Israeli security official said it was an expression of Israel’s support for the current ceasefire with Hamas, which began seven weeks ago.

However, Egypt denied it was co-ordinating with Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing.

The State Information Service cited an official Egyptian source as saying that “if an agreement is reached to open the crossing, it will be in both directions, to enter and exit the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the plan of US President Donald Trump”.

Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan states that “opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism” implemented under the January ceasefire deal.

The crossing has been mostly closed since May 2024, when the Palestinian side was seized by Israeli forces. Before then, it was the main exit point for Palestinians allowed to leave during the conflict and a key entry point for humanitarian aid.

At least 16,500 severely ill or injured Palestinians in need of lifesaving medical treatment abroad are currently waiting to be evacuated from Gaza, according to the World Health Organization. It says only 235 patients, almost all of them children, have been evacuated via crossings with Israel since the ceasefire took effect.

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported that Palestinian Authority (PA) forces would assist in operating the reopened Rafah crossing alongside the EU’s Border Assistance Mission.

It cited a European source as saying Palestinian representatives had also helped during the previous ceasefire but without wearing PA insignia due to “Israeli sensitivity” over their presence in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any role in the future governance of the territory for the PA, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank.

Haaretz also reported that Netanyahu had so far blocked the reopening of the Rafah crossing because of the delayed return of the bodies of deceased hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.

Under the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which took effect on 10 October, Hamas agreed to return the 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of the 28 dead Israeli and foreign hostages still in Gaza within 72 hours.

All the living hostages were released on 13 October in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.

So far, the remains of 23 dead Israeli hostages have been handed over, along with those of three foreign hostages – one of them Thai, one Nepalese and one Tanzanian. In exchange, Israel has handed over the bodies of 345 Palestinians killed during the war.

One of the remaining dead hostages is Israeli – Ran Gvili, 24 – and the other is a Thai – Suthisak Rintalak, 43.

The Israeli prime minister’s office said on Wednesday morning that forensic testing had shown that human remains handed over by Hamas in Gaza the previous day did not belong to either of the two men.

On Wednesday afternoon, the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, said it had recovered the body of a hostage in northern Gaza. The body will be transferred later to Israeli forces via the Red Cross, according to Hamas’s military wing.

The two dead hostages still in Gaza were among the 251 people abducted by Hamas and its allies on 7 October 2023, when about 1,200 other people were killed.

Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 70,100 people have been killed, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

DUBAI: The 2025–26 NBA season tipped off last night with international stars once again taking center stage, highlighting the league’s growing global reach and balance of power.

In Oklahoma City, Canadian MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champions to a dramatic 125-124 double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets on ring night, scoring 35 points and delivering the decisive free throws.

Out west, Slovenian guard Luka Doncic opened his season in spectacular form for the Los Angeles Lakers, recording 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a narrow loss to Golden State, joining Michael Jordan as the only guards in NBA history to open a season with a 40-10-5 stat line.

Their performances captured what NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum called a “new era” for the league, one defined by the strength and reach of its international players.

“This marks a new era for our league, and I think it’s one that’s going to transform how fans everywhere watch and experience the NBA through our new media partnerships, our most global partnerships to date,” Tatum said.

“While we continue to build on the incredible growth of the game, with seven different champions in the last seven seasons, the league’s historic age of competitiveness gives fans hope that this once again could be their team’s year.”

Record number of international players

Ahead of opening night, Tatum confirmed that the league had reached a historic milestone.

“There is a record 135 international players on opening-night rosters that beats the previous record by 10,” he said.

“We have a record number of European players, including a record 19 French players, a record number of players from the UK, and also a record-tying number of players from Australia.

“As you all know, four international players have combined to win the last seven MVP awards.”

That mix of experience and emerging talent has helped shape one of the most competitive landscapes in years.

“There is no clear favorite to win the championship, and that’s why it gives more fans some hope,” Tatum said.

“The skill level in this league is unprecedented right now. There’s a mix of these all-time greats who are still playing at the highest level. There are these perennial MVP candidates who like the Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.”

Expanding global footprint

Tatum also pointed to the NBA’s continued international expansion, with preseason and regular-season games held across several continents.

“I had the opportunity to attend our preseason games in Abu Dhabi and Macau. We also played NBA games for the first time ever in Melbourne, Australia,” he said.

“We also had preseason games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Vancouver, Canada. And I can tell you that the enthusiasm around those games was truly remarkable.”

Beyond events, the league is also deepening its structural ties internationally.

“Ninety-five percent of the world’s population is outside the United States,” he added.

“And in many of those countries, basketball is either the No.1 or No. 2 sport. Even with everything we’re doing to engage hundreds of millions of passionate NBA fans around the world, we think we’re just scratching the surface of how popular this game and this league can be globally.”

A global game for a global audience

From Antetokounmpo in Greece to Jokic in Serbia and Embiid in Cameroon, international players continue to define the NBA’s identity. Rising talents such as Victor Wembanyama, the fastest player ever to reach 1 billion social media views, are expanding that reach even further.

“These players not only foster a unique connection between the NBA and the fans in their respective countries,” Tatum said.

“They’re global superstars who resonate in the US and around the world.”

As the 2025–26 season gets underway, the NBA’s opening night once again confirmed that basketball’s brightest stars now shine from every corner of the globe.

Conor Ogilvie-Davidson

Conor Ogilvie-Davidson

The UN humanitarian chief has urged Israel to open more crossings into Gaza to allow a surge of aid, after Israel warned it would limit supplies into the territory over delays from Hamas in releasing the bodies of deceased hostages.

Tom Fletcher called on both Israel and Hamas to implement the terms of the ceasefire agreement, saying it was “essential that we do not squander the immense progress made” through the US-brokered deal.

There has been growing anger in Israel over the delayed return of hostages’ bodies, and the key Rafah crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza remained closed on Wednesday.

In Gaza, people have been stockpiling food as prices surge over fears the ceasefire may not hold.

Humanitarian aid has been entering Gaza since the ceasefire deal took effect on 10 October, but Israel threatened to restrict supplies after Hamas did not return the bodies of all 28 deceased hostages by Monday, as agreed. Hamas says it has had difficulty locating the remains.

So far, seven hostages’ bodies have been returned to Israel from Gaza. Hamas said it would return two more bodies later on Wednesday.

In a post on X, Fletcher said Hamas must “make strenuous efforts to return all the bodies of the deceased hostages”.

He added: “As Israel has agreed, they must allow the massive surge of humanitarian aid – thousands of trucks a week – on which so many lives depend, and on which the world has insisted.”

He called for “more crossings open and a genuine, practical, problem-solving approach to removing remaining obstacles” and said “withholding aid from civilians is not a bargaining chip”.

The Rafah crossing has largely remained closed since fighting broke out after the 7 October 2023 attacks.

US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan stipulated that opening the crossing would be “subject to the same mechanism implemented” during a temporary ceasefire earlier this year. Then, it reopened briefly to allow wounded Palestinians to be evacuated for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, an official from Cogat, the Israeli military body in charge of aid for Gaza, said on Tuesday: “Humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing. No such agreement has been reached at any stage.”

The UN chief also said he was “gravely concerned by the evidence of violence against civilians in Gaza”.

Reports of masked Hamas gunmen executing eight Palestinians in public have triggered fear and outrage among residents of Gaza.

Adm Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, called on Hamas to “suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza” in a post on X. He urged the group to seize “an historic opportunity for peace” by “fully standing down, strictly adhering to President Trump’s 20-point peace plan and disarming without delay”. Hamas has said it is targeting “criminals and collaborators with Israel”.

Food prices have surged in Gaza as Palestinians stockpile food, concerned that the ceasefire deal will not hold.

Traders and suppliers in the enclave have been hoarding food items to create shortages and drive up profits, fearing that the war could resume, local residents told the BBC.

“Every time we start to feel safe, new threats appear, and we fear the war will start all over again,” says mother-of-six Neven Al-Mughrabi, a displaced resident from Gaza who lives in Khan Younis.

“I lost my house in Gaza City, I decided to stay here with my family because I don’t trust the ceasefire and we’re sick of displacement.”

She added that a trader in Khan Younis’s main market said demand for flour, oil and sugar had surged within hours. “Despite the sudden rise of prices by about 30%, people are buying as if they don’t trust the calm will last long, everyone is afraid aid will stop,” Neven says.

Father-of-six Khaled Halas, who lives in Deir al-Balah, said there was “no water, no electricity and no tents”.

Halas was displaced from the Shuja’iyya area of Gaza City and has been forced to move many times.

“The Shuja’iyya [area] is completely closed. I went to the vegetable market where gunfire broke out, we have no protection,” he said. “There is constant shooting in our area, and life there is completely destroyed.”

The growing unease comes as mediators meet in Egypt in a bid to bridge differences between Hamas and Israel, and keep the first phase of the ceasefire deal on track.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that one of four bodies handed over by Hamas overnight “does not match any of the hostages” following examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. The other three bodies have been identified as Tamir Nimrodi, 20, Eitan Levy, 53, and Uriel Baruch, 35, the Hostages Families Forum said.

The ceasefire agreement appears to acknowledge that Hamas and other Palestinian factions may not have been able to find all hostage remains before the initial deadline on Monday.

Under the agreement with Hamas, Israel agreed to hand over the bodies of 15 Palestinians in return for every deceased Israeli hostage.

Israel has returned the bodies of a further 45 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry confirmed on Wednesday. This brings the total number of bodies released by Israel to 90.

The delay in the return of the bodies of Israeli hostages has led to anger in Israel. The son of Amiram Cooper – one of the deceased Israeli hostages whose body is still being held in Gaza – said that he and other hostage relatives are trying “to find the strength somehow to pick ourselves up… and continue the fight”.

“It’s clear to us that they [Hamas] could have and should have released more and they’re playing games,” Rotem said.