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Latest live A1 traffic news

A1 and a1(m) traffic news and real time updates; get the latest info on a1 traffic delays, roadworks, accidents and snow.

Even though the A1 is just an A road, it is still one of the most important, most busy routes in the UK. At 410 miles in length it certainly has the scale of a motorway, linking together two capitals in the form of London and Edinburgh, as well as many other towns and cities besides.

Inevitably, the A1’s length makes delays almost inevitable, and these are only made worse by the fact that the A1 consists of just two lanes. So if you’re travelling along some (or heaven forbid, all) of it, you could save yourself a lot of time by staying up to date with the latest traffic news and accident updates available on this page.

• What is a smart motorway?

With roadworks seemingly a permanent fixture on the A1, and with the usual mix of incidents and traffic jams to contend with, it’s far from likely that you’ll complete your journey without any delays. And your odds get even worse when the weather intervenes, especially when it snows. But by using the following information, you should be able to improve your odds…

Below you can find all the latest A1 and A1(M) traffic information via our specially built Twitter feed, which draws real-time alerts from the Highways Agency, official police accounts and other traffic news feeds. We’ve also got a live traffic map so you can pick out incidents as they happen, and there’s a list of important intersections as well...

A1 and A1M live traffic map

The A1 passes through North London and over the M25, then keeps heading North past Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Letchworth, Peterborough, Grantham, Newark, Doncaster, Leeds, Harrogate, York, Ripon, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Alnwick and Berwick.

•  M25 traffic news

The map below shows live updates on the current problem areas of the A1 and A1M for roadworks, accidents or general congestion causing delays on the road...   

A1 and A1(M) History

Dick Turpin and his ilk were the cause of many early hold-ups on the A1 back in the days of stagecoach travel (when it was known as the Great North Road), but you’ll be extremely unlucky to be accosted by a highwayman today. There are plenty of reports of theft of goods and fuel from parked up lorries in certain sections of the A1, but the average motorist can generally expect safe passage.

•  M6 traffic news

However there are still plenty of (often closed) coaching inns along the route that have links to the early days of turnpike travel – including some famous ones like the Ram Jam Inn between Stamford and Grantham.

The A1 was first named as such in 1921 by the Ministry of Transport, but it basically follows a North-South route that has been documented since Roman times.

A1 major junctions

Along its length, the A1 and A1(M) has junctions with many significant major roads including:

Need to use the M25 on your A1 journey? Then take a look at our live M25 traffic news page .

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Three people die in six-vehicle rush-hour collision on the A1(M)

Lorry driver arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, while busy stretch of motorway remains closed

A lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after three people died in a motorway collision.

Police said the six-vehicle crash, which involved two lorries, took place on the northbound carriageway of the A1 near Bowburn, County Durham, at 6.20pm on Thursday.

A man and woman who were travelling in a Vauxhall Crossland died at the scene, along with the male driver of a Toyota Hilux pickup truck, said Durham Constabulary. Several others were injured, including two people who required hospital treatment. One of the lorries caught fire.

A 41-year-old male lorry driver is in police custody, having been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Det Supt Dave Ashton, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was a harrowing incident for everyone involved and our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their loved ones. It has been incredibly upsetting and distressing for those who witnessed the collision, and for the emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics, who attended the scene.

“We would therefore ask that people refrain from sharing photographs and videos from the collision out of dignity and respect for those who have lost their lives.”

Ashton said the investigation would be “extremely complex and lengthy” because the crash site was spread over some distance and many of the vehicles had been severely damaged. The usually busy stretch of motorway would remain closed for the rest of Friday, he added, to allow for specialist collision investigators to work at the scene.

Ashton said: “We understand the significant disruption that this incident has caused, and would like to thank people for their patience, understanding and cooperation while we work at the scene.”

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For information about other traffic alerts active on our network please visit Traffic England

North East news LIVE: Latest travel updates as roads blocked after heavy snowfall

Chronicle Live's breaking news service including Friday's traffic, travel, weather, sport and more covering Newcastle and the North East

• Updated 17:51, 10 MAR 2023

Hello and welcome to the Chronicle’s live breaking news blog.

It’s Daniel Hall and Sam Volpe here and we'll be keeping you updated on what’s going on across the North East, including the latest on the roads.

If you would like to get in touch with us today about any breaking news, here are our details:

Email: [email protected]

To get breaking news sent straight to your phone, download our app here or sign up to our newsletter for the latest news straight to your inbox.

• Full National Highways response to reopening the A66 13:36
• Police investigate potential discovery of 'human bones' 11:54

Tomorrow's weather

The Met Office says: "Early freezing fog patches gradually clearing, then very cold with sunny spells and increasing amounts of cloud. A period of snow this evening, turning to rain overnight.

"Maximum temperature 5 °C."

Congestion - A690 Leazes Road

Usual congestion on A690 Leazes Road at A691 Framwelgate Peth (The Gates Roundabout).

Gary Lineker will take a step back from BBC MOTD hosting duties

Gary Lineker will step back from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have an "agreed and clear position on his use of social media".

In a statement, the BBC said: "The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.

"The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we've got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.

Read the full story, here .

Slow traffic - A167 Northbound

Usual slow traffic on A167 Northbound at A691 Southfield Way (Hospital roundabout). Travel time is ten minutes.

Tyne and Wear Metro cuts number of trains at peak commuter times as passenger group issues warning

The number of Tyne and Wear Metro trains running at peak commuter times has been slashed.

North East transport bosses have confirmed that they are axeing the extra trains that run during morning and evening peaks, claiming that they are no longer needed as the number of people still working from home after the Covid-19 pandemic has reduced demand.

While it is hoped that the move will also mean less strain is put on the Metro’s ageing carriages before a new £362m fleet is put into service, a passenger group warned the cuts will leave trains around Newcastle city centre more crowded.

Read the full story here.

Rush hour congestion building

Unsurprisingly, traffic is building on the region's roads.

Areas hit include:

• B1307 Sandyford Road (Eastbound) from Newcastle Civic Centre to A1058 Jesmond Road
• Kingsway South (Southbound) from Western Avenue to Eleventh Avenue
• A191 (Westbound) from A189 Haddricks Mill Road/Killingworth Road (Haddricks Mill) to B1318 High Street

Fire causes 'irreparable damage' to Birtley Bowling Welfare Pavilion following spate of attacks

Police have appealed for information after a bowling pavilion was burnt to the ground following a spate of vandalism.

At around 10.30pm on Wednesday emergency services were called to Birtley Bowling Welfare Pavilion after a fire engulfed the building and caused irreparable damage.

It followed three separate occasions last month in which offenders broke into the premises and caused significant damage. This included locks being cut, shutters being removed as well as windows, furniture, toilets and doors being damaged.

Yellow weather warning

Just to remind readers of the weather warnings in place - there's currently a yellow warning about icy conditions, and snow set to fall over the weekend.

Read more here.

Reports of a traffic incident in Ryhope

Northumbria Police have told ChronicleLive how it appears a vehicle has crashed into a hedge in Tunstall Hope Road, Ryhope.

New metro goes through its paces!

Shouldn't be too long before the new Tyne and Wear metro fleet is operational. This is a sneak peek at the future!

Swalwell Bank blocked

In Whickham, Swalwell Bank Eastbound is partially blocked, slow traffic due to broken down lorry near Fellside Road.

Peter Kay halts Newcastle Arena gig after fan is rushed to hospital in health scare

Peter Kay briefly had to pause his sell-out show in Newcastle last night, when an audience member became unwell - requiring medical assistance.

The stand-up comedian is currently embarked on his sold-out comeback tour, performing all across the country on a number of coveted stages.

And his show at the city's Utilita Arena was quickly brought to a standstill Thursday, after a front-row fan was in need of urgent medical attention.

Traffic updates

A few troubled areas on the roads this afternoon. Here are a couple of quick updates:

• Tows Bank in both directions blocked due to accident, a van involved and snow between Rowfoot (Rowfoot) and Knarsdale (Knarsdale).

Delays on A1 Western Bypass Southbound from Metro Centre to A6127 / A167 ( Bowes Incline Angel Of The North). Travel time is 25 minutes.

Discovery of 'potential human bones`

We know have a dedicated blog sharing the latest from the scene in Morpeth where police are searching following the discovery of "potential human bones".

Visit that blog here.

Full National Highways response to reopening the A66

This is the statement from National Highways:

Drivers in Cumbria, Durham and North Yorkshire are advised that the A66 has been reopened. National Highways closed the A66 from Scotch Corner to Brough at 2pm on Thursday 9 March as snow fell heavily across the region. A severe weather alert for snow in the Midlands and north of England was issued for yesterday and today (Friday 10 March) with National Highways asking everyone travelling in these areas to consider if their journey is essential and to go prepared. Preparation includes enhanced around-the-clock vigilance and resourcing along key routes such as the M62, A628 and A66 trans-Pennine locations. For safety reasons, the decision had been taken to proactively close the A66, but it has now reopened. Further information can be found by visiting https://www.trafficengland.com/ or calling the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.

'Shameless' Sunderland burglar gave himself away using stolen bank cards in newsagent

A brazen Sunderland burglar gave himself away just hours after stealing designer clothes, a computer, booze and a handbag full of bank cards from a Washington home - by using the bank cards just hours later.

Liam Miles, 32, has now been jailed for two years and five months. The burglary took place on January 15 this year at a home in Redshank Close, Ayton.

Northumbria Police said the occupants reported how they awoke at 7.30am that day to find their patio door ajar and a string of valuables missing.

Metro withdrawn from service

Another failure on the Metro has seen a train withdrawn.

Nexus tweeted:

"A train has been withdrawn from service at Airport due to equipment failure. We now have a gap of up to 12 minutes between Airport and South Hylton. Sorry for the inconvenience caused."

A66 reopens

Good news for any cross-Pennine travellers.

Seaham rescue: Emergency services and coastguard helicopter called into action after man fell from cliffs

A Coastguard helicopter crew and paramedics rescued a man who had fallen from the cliffs at Nose's Point in Seaham on Thursday evening.

Three coastguard rescue teams and a helicopter from Humberside were required to rescue the man, who was then passed on to North East Ambulance Service and taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital . The emergency services were called shortly after 5pm.

The emergency services explained that the man was lifted to safety by the helicopter and transported to a nearby car park where the ambulance was waiting.

School closures

A reminder that there are a number of school closures due to snow around the region today. Parts of the North East had heavy snowfall overnight, with weather warnings in place from the Met Office. People were told to expect disruption on the roads and public transport.

The bad weather also led to a string of school closures in County Durham . We have listed these in our article here .. It is also worth checking the Durham County Council website here . And Northumberland has school closures too.

A66 should reopen "within the next hour"

Cumbria Police and the National Highways agency are both suggesting the A66 should reopen very soon.,

Police investigate potential discovery of 'human bones'

Northumbria Police have confirmed the force is investigating after a report of "potential human bones" being found in Morpeth. We'll bring you more on this shortly, but a police spokesperson has said:

"Shortly before 3pm yesterday (Thursday) we received a report of potential human bones being found in a wooded area near Cottingwood Lane, Morpeth. “Officers remain at the scene to carry out enquiries and an investigation has been launched into the discovery. “Anyone with any concerns is advised to speak to an officer on duty. Anyone with information can report to police using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or call 101 quoting reference NP-20230309-0647."

Go North East bus delays

There are a couple of bus delays to Go North East services this morning, full list here .

One, that the CItyrider 56 service is unable to stop at Peareth Hall Road and Donwell Bus Link, is caused by the inclement road conditions.

Toddler Beatrix's heart journey on 'mobile billboard' as North East lorry firm back organ donation campaign

An incredible gesture from a Washington haulage firm has seen the adorable face of tot Beatrix Adamson-Archbold adorn the sides of a lorry in hope of encouraging drivers up and down the country to consider how vital organ donation is.

Little Beatrix, two, from Burnopfield, County Durham, is awaiting a heart transplant at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

And her family - like many others at the Freeman's Children's Heart Unit - are desperate to encourage as many people as possible to think about organ donation if that is ever an option. Beatrix's story has touched many around the North East.

Met Office yellow weather warning for ice

The Met Office now has a yellow warning set to stretch through to Saturday morning.

The forecasters have said: "Ice is likely to be a hazard where snow has fallen overnight."

And people are told to expect:

Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths

Whilst falling snow will clear from the south and east of the warning area in the next few hours, lying snow and ice will likely continue to be a hazard through the rest of this morning. Icy stretches should become confined to higher ground this afternoon, before temperatures fall below freezing widely this evening. This will lead to untreated surfaces left wet by snow melt becoming icy at all levels, with some disruption to travel likely.

Today's snow has delayed a number of arrivals into Newcastle Airport

Worth a look if you're expecting anyone home! See here .

Westgate Road reopened

Congestion has eased in a number of areas including across the Tyne Bridge and on Sunderland Highway and Old Durham Road. After an earlier collission, Westgate Road has also reopened.

A66 closed until 11

The National Highways team are saying the A66 will now be shut until around 11.

One lane closed on A19

One lane is closed on the A19 Northbound from the A690 Durham Road, Herrington Interchange, to the A183. Traffic is said to be coping well.

A691 partially blocked in both directions

The A691 Consett Road is partially blocked in both directions at Lanchester and traffic is queuing due to an obstruction on the road at A6076.

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Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Russia Travel Advisory

Travel advisory september 5, 2023, russia - level 4: do not travel.

Updated to remove COVID-specific information and the kidnapping risk indicator as well as updates to security risks.

Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the  unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces , the potential for  harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials , the  arbitrary enforcement of local law ,  limited flights into and out of Russia , the  Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia , and the possibility of  terrorism .  U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately.  Exercise increased caution due to  the risk of wrongful detentions.

The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, due to Russian government limitations on travel for embassy personnel and staffing, and the ongoing suspension of operations, including consular services, at U.S. consulates.

There have been numerous reports of drone attacks, explosions, and fires in areas in Western and Southern Russia, particularly near the Russian border with Ukraine, as well as in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the event of an emergency, U.S. citizens should follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately.

In September 2022, the Russian government mobilized citizens to the armed forces in support of its invasion of Ukraine. Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals’ U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their departure from Russia, and/or conscript them. 

U.S. citizens should note that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia, and options to electronically transfer funds from the United States are extremely limited due to sanctions imposed on Russian banks. There are reports of cash shortages within Russia.

Commercial flight options are extremely limited and are often unavailable on short notice. If you wish to depart Russia, you should make independent arrangements as soon as possible. The U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens to depart the country and transportation options may suddenly become even more limited. Click  here  for Information for U.S. Citizens Seeking to Depart Russia.

U.S. Embassy personnel are generally not permitted to travel on Russian air carriers due to safety concerns.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the air safety rating for Russia from Category 1 to Category 2 on April 21, 2022, due to Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport noncompliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over those areas of the Moscow Flight Information Region (FIR), the Samara FIR (UWWW) and the Rostov-na-Donu (URRV) FIR within 160NM of the boundaries of the Dnipro (UKDV) Flight Information Regions. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

The right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are not consistently protected in Russia. U.S. citizens should avoid all political or social protests and not photograph security personnel at these events. Russian authorities have arrested U.S. citizens who have participated in demonstrations and there are numerous reports Russian nationals have been detained for social media activity. 

Country Summary:

U.S. citizens, including former and current U.S. government and military personnel and private citizens engaged in business who are visiting or residing in Russia, have been interrogated without cause and threatened by Russian officials, and may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion. 

Russian security services may fail to notify the U.S. Embassy of the detention of a U.S. citizen and unreasonably delay U.S. consular assistance. Russian security services are increasing the arbitrary enforcement of local laws to target foreign and international organizations they consider “undesirable.”

Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence. Furthermore, Russian authorities arbitrarily enforce local laws against U.S. citizen religious workers and have opened questionable criminal investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Russia to perform work for or volunteer with non-governmental organizations or religious organizations.

There have been multiple security incidents in southwestern Russia related to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government declared martial law in Russia’s regions bordering Ukraine (Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Krasnodar) on October 20, 2022. The martial law regime allows the rapid introduction of restrictive measures such as curfew, seizure of private property, restriction of entry/exit and freedom of movement, internment of foreigners, forced relocation of local residents, and restrictions on public gatherings. U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to these areas.

Recent legislation has expanded the ability of Russian authorities to detain, question, and arrest individuals suspected of acting against Russia’s interests, including posts on personal social media accounts, engaging with foreign and international entities, discrediting the Russian state or military, as well as advocating for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons.

Terrorist groups, both transnational and local terrorist organizations, and individuals inspired by extremist ideology continue plotting possible attacks in Russia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs and systems, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. Travel to the North Caucasus (including Chechnya and Mt. Elbrus) is prohibited for U.S. government employees and strongly discouraged for U.S. citizens.

The international community, including the United States and Ukraine, does not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya – that Russia has purported to annex more recently. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. Russia staged its further invasion of Ukraine, in part, from occupied Crimea, and Russia is likely to take further military actions in Crimea, and the four other Ukrainian oblasts are the subject of intensive fighting. There are continuing abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s authority.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continues to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya, although the ongoing conflict severely restricts the Embassy’s ability to provide services in these areas.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Russia.

If you decide to travel to Russia:

• Familiarize yourself with the information on  what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Monitor local and international media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Russia.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.

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Travel Startups Raise $1.1 Billion in Past Two Weeks

Justin Dawes , Skift

May 20th, 2024 at 8:49 AM EDT

There haven't been as many travel startup fundraises this year, but there have been many more large dollar amounts than at this point last year.

Justin Dawes

Travel Startup Funding This Week

Each week we round up travel startups that have recently received or announced funding . Please email Travel Tech Reporter Justin Dawes at [email protected] if you have funding news.

It’s been a huge couple of weeks for travel startups. Eight of them announced $1.1 billion in funding over the past two weeks.

Most of that came from Wayve, which raised just over $1 billion for its robotaxi technology. Other significant raises — though not as high as $1 billion — went to companies in travel insurance and renewable jet fuel. And some smaller fundings went to a new luggage brand and a company 3D printing interior airplane components.

Wayve: $1 Billion

Wayve , which is testing self-driving cars meant for ride-hailing and other purposes, has raised $1.05 billion in a series C funding. 

The round was led by SoftBank Group, with support from Microsoft and AI chip company Nvidia.

Some of SoftBank’s other travel and transportation investments include Uber, China rideshare app DiDi and its robotaxi venture, WeWork, Oyo, GetYourGuide, Klook, and Yanolja. 

UK-based Wayve is developing a type of artificial intelligence meant to improve the way that autonomous cars and robots interact with the world. The company said it envisions a future where AI enables vehicles to drive fully autonomously, an upgrade from today’s AI-assisted driving models. 

The company’s primary customers are automakers and vehicle fleet owners. The company believes there’s an opportunity for working with the growing ride-hailing industry in London. It’s also focused on the parcel and grocery delivery industries. 

Wayve has been testing its technology in cars on the road in the UK since 2018, particularly in partnership with grocery delivery services.

“AI is revolutionizing mobility. Vehicles can now interpret their surroundings like humans, enabling enhanced decision-making that promises higher safety standards. The potential of this type of technology is transformative; it could eliminate 99% of traffic accidents,” said Kentaro Matsui, managing partner of SoftBank Investment Advisers, in a statement.

Cover Genius: $80 Million

Cover Genius , a platform that travel companies use to provide insurance to customers, has raised $80 million in series E funding. 

Spark Capital led the round, with support from Dawn Capital, King River Capital, and G Squared.

New York City-based Cover Genius offers services to companies in travel and multiple other industries. The services allows the companies to offer insurance coverage to customers, sold separately or as part of a bundled package. 

Services include “cancel for any reason” protection and instant payments for approved claims in more than 90 currencies, the company says. Other travel insurance options cover airfare if an airline goes out of business, emergency medical assistance for extended stays, personal electronics for business travelers, and baggage delays.

Travel clients include Booking Holdings, Ryanair, Skyscanner, Icelandair, Uber, Agoda, Etraveli, Despegar, Hopper, HomeToGo, Volaris, Spirit, EaseMyTrip, and others.

The company also works with live entertainment companies including SeatGeek to provide insurance to customers for ticketed events, as well as various types of rideshare services. 

The funding will go toward growing business, adding services, and strengthening the tech, including the insurance distribution system and AI-powered claims handling.

LanzaJet: $20 Million

LanzaJet , a renewable jet fuel company, has raised $20 million from Groupe ADP.

The Illinois-based company says its technology can convert low-carbon ethanol to jet fuel. The company in January opened a small-scale plant in Georgia that it says can produce 10 million gallons of fuel per year from sources including feedstock waste. 

LanzaJet in March raised $30 million from Southwest Airlines and is working with a Southwest-owned company that makes renewable ethanol .

LanzaJet has a goal of one billion gallons of SAF production by 2030.

Hometime: $6.6 Million

Hometime , which manages vacation-rental properties that list on Airbnb, has raised $6.6 million (10 million Australian dollars).

Fifth Estate Asset Management led the round, with support from AS1 Growth Partners, NAB Ventures, Asia Principal Capital, and OneVentures.

Sydney-based Hometime says it manages all aspects of vacation rental businesses on behalf of owners based in Australia and New Zealand, including listing on Airbnb, guest management, cleaning, styling and photography, and more.

The funding will go toward growing the brand organically and by acquiring other local operators. 

Naya Homes: $3.1 Million

Naya Homes , a property manager for vacation rental owners in Mexico, has raised $3.1 million. 

The round was led by Primary Venture Partners, with support from BBG Ventures and other investors.

Naya Homes says it manages multiple aspects of vacation rental properties for owners, including listing management for multiple booking sites, cleaning and maintenance. 

The startup manages more than 400 properties in Mexico, including in Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Los Cabos, and Mexico City. The company plans to expand into 10 other Mexican cities, including Cancún and Playa del Carmen. 

You. Smart. Thing.: $1.5 Million

You. Smart. Thing. , which helps companies suggest low-carbon travel routes for customers, has raised $1.5 million (£1.2 million).

West Midlands Co-Investment Fund led the round, with support from several angel investors, including a former executive of the route suggestion app Citymapper.

The England-based startup said managers for destinations, venues, and live events can contract its service for use by consumers. Users input their origin and destination, and the service suggests personalized routes. They can include options meant to be more environmentally friendly, with tech that estimates and tracks carbon output. And disabled users can request more accessible routes. 

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games contracted the service, which led to 10% of users for the event requesting accessible routes, the startup said.

Icon: $1.2 Million

Icon , which makes luggage and travel accessories, has raised $1.2 million in seed funding. 

DSG Consumer Partners led the round, with support from a group of angel investors. 

India-based Icon says it targets the “mass premium segment” of the growing number of Indian travelers. Products include hard luggage, backpacks, and handbags.

The funding will go toward adding new products, hiring, and growing business.

AM Craft: $652,000

AM Craft , which provides manufacturing services for the airline industry, has raised $652,000 in pre-seed funding.

Change Ventures led the round, with support from Bad Ideas Fund.

Latvia-based AM Craft designs, makes, and delivers airplane interior components for seats, overhead bins, and more. The company uses a 3D printer to make the products and has a library of pre-approved parts.

Skift Cheat Sheet

Seed  capital is money used to start a business, often led by angel investors and friends or family.

Series A  financing is typically drawn from venture capitalists. The round aims to help a startup’s founders make sure that their product is something that customers truly want to buy.

Series B  financing is mainly about venture capitalist firms helping a company grow faster. These fundraising rounds can assist in recruiting skilled workers and developing cost-effective marketing.

Series C  financing is ordinarily about helping a company expand, such as through acquisitions. In addition to VCs, hedge funds, investment banks, and private equity firms often participate.

Series D, E, and, beyond  These mainly mature businesses and the funding round may help a company prepare to go public or be acquired. A variety of types of private investors might participate.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: artificial intelligence , funding , luggage , microsoft , property management , ridesharing , softbank , sustainable aviation fuel , the prompt , travel insurance , vacation rentals , vcroundup

Photo credit: Pictured: Wayve autonomous vehicle driving on the road. Wayve

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The Morning

When travel plans go awry.

There are ways of keeping ourselves anchored, even when we enter a parallel universe disconnected from time.

By Melissa Kirsch

The weekend trip is, in theory, the perfect break. Two nights someplace else, just a small duffel bag and limited logistics standing between you and a reset. Leave on Friday, come back Sunday, fill the hours in between with enough that’s novel and return refreshed, or at least with a slightly altered perspective. You might take a weekend trip for vacation or work or to see family, but the effect is the same. You’re a little changed on return. You see your regular life a little bit differently.

I took what was meant to be a quick trip last weekend to attend a college graduation, and it was, strictly speaking, quick: I was scarcely away for 48 hours, but extreme weather marooned me for most of those hours in the liminal spaces of transit — airports, grounded planes, traffic jams — where time loses legibility. An old friend used to call these neither-here-nor-there realms the “zero world” for the way they feel unfastened from reality, parallel to daily life but separate. The flight cabin after an announcement of a fourth lightning delay is a world detached from the one you know, a temporary society populated by temporary citizens with perhaps not much in common save one deeply held belief: We need to get out of here.

I was as cranky and impatient as the rest of my fellow travelers at each complication in our journeys, but also fascinated by the communities and customs and Cibo Express markets of the zero world. Each of us was, at any given time, one captain’s announcement away from a temper tantrum, but we were also competitively careful to be polite to one another and to the airline staff, as if determined to demonstrate that those wild videos of short-tempered passengers being duct-taped to their seats did not represent us, the makeshift civilization of this departure lounge.

Graduation, when I finally arrived, was a joyous affair despite the glitches. The speaker, an astronaut, showed a photo of the farm where she grew up, the place she thought of as home for much of her life. Then she showed a photo of the limb of the Earth, the glowing edge of the atmosphere, and described how, when she went to space, home was no longer a town on a map but this planet, a shift in perspective so massive I felt a little queasy contemplating it.

On Hour 3 in the airport bar on Sunday morning, beside two German travelers practicing Spanish, I ordered an omelet and imagined my own home, which felt very far away and lit by its own otherworldly halo. What would I be doing if I were there? Reading, texting, catching up on emails — the same things I was doing here. What was so bad about this? Was it the lack of choice? The lack of fresh air?

It was all those things, and also the feeling of being trapped in a warp between origin and destination. My emotions felt out of proportion to the situation: I hadn’t traveled very far for very long, was in no peril and would still arrive in New York with enough day left to do whatever needed to be done, but I felt on the verge of tears, loosed from my moorings, floating between fixed points, dislocated. I put on my headphones, put on a favorite band whose songs are so familiar they provide a home base no matter where I am. I listened to the same album on repeat for the duration of the flight, in the car on the way home, even at home once I finally made it there.

There’s a story in The Times today about how A.S.M.R., the pleasant, brain-tingling feeling we get when hearing certain sounds or watching certain comforting scenes, has become a feature of all viral internet content, not just specialized videos devoted to inducing the sensation. You can still put on a very specific video of someone whispering into a microphone or crinkling paper, but you’re just as likely to find the stimuli in videos of people cooking or cleaning their pools. This seems like a logical extension. We’re restless beasts in need of soothing. Sometimes we’re dramatically homesick, sometimes it’s just a bad day. Why not imbue the mundane with the choreography of comfort? Why not add pleasure whenever and wherever we can?

For weekend travel inspiration: The Times’s 36 Hours series.

How to deal with the increasing unpredictability of travel .

Stunning views of Earth from space .

How A.S.M.R. became a sensation.

THE WEEK IN CULTURE

The final round of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Sweden today. This year’s favorites include a Croatian techno act called Baby Lasagna. Read , or listen to , a guide to the competition.

“I won’t let anything break me”: Eden Golan, Israel’s 20-year-old entrant, spoke to The Times about the campaign to exclude her country from the event because of the war in Gaza.

The stage crew has 50 seconds to disassemble and reassemble sets. Watch a video from The Wall Street Journal .

Film and TV

“It’s easy to get caught up in the bigness of it all”: Owen Teague, the star of the latest “Planet of the Apes” film, and Andy Serkis, the lead in the earlier movies, sat down for a conversation .

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is not as transporting as the previous trilogy of films, the Times critic Alissa Wilkinson writes , but “there’s still a tremendous amount to mull over.”

The latest season of “Doctor Who,” starring Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th actor to play the doctor, opened with a double episode. Read a recap.

Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery announced a plan to bundle their Disney+, Hulu and Max streaming services this summer

The recording engineer Steve Albini, who died this week at 61, was “arguably the most influential figure ever to emerge from indie rock,” Pitchfork wrote . Listen to 10 of his essential tracks , which shaped the sound of alternative rock music.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s rap beef crashed the website Genius , where users can annotate lyrics to songs. Times critics discussed where the rappers’ sonic conflict goes next .

Other Big Stories

A stage version of the beloved animated film “Spirited Away” is running in London, after premiering in Japan. The adaptation is opulent and impressive, but it could use more heart , our critic writes.

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that would bar the Des Moines Art Center from dismantling “Greenwood Pond: Double Site,” an environmental work by Mary Miss that includes wooden walkways and sitting areas in need of repair.

The owners of the Los Angeles house where Marilyn Monroe last lived, and died, sued the city, accusing officials of “backroom machinations” to save it from a planned demolition .

David Shapiro, a lyrical poet who appeared in a famous photograph from the 1968 uprising at Columbia University, died at 77 .

THE LATEST NEWS

Israel-Hamas War

A Biden administration report said that Israel may have broken international law in Gaza, but that Israel’s “credible and reliable” assurances mean the U.S. can keep sending weapons.

The Biden administration is still waiting for Israel to show how it plans to evacuate and protect civilians in Rafah ahead of a possible invasion.

The U.N. General Assembly voted to support Palestinian statehood , a symbolic move. The U.S. voted no, and Israel accused delegates of “shredding the U.N. charter.”

Michael Cohen, who paid Stormy Daniels hush money and whom prosecutors say Donald Trump reimbursed, is expected to testify Monday in Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial. The judge asked prosecutors to stop Cohen from criticizing Trump .

Russia tried to break through Ukrainian lines in the country’s north using shelling and armored columns. Ukraine said it had repelled the attacks.

Russia is upgrading a munitions depot in Belarus, possibly to house nuclear weapons , a Times analysis of satellite imagery found.

The Biden administration plans to raise tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to protect U.S. auto manufacturers.

Apple is revamping Siri to offer more advanced A.I. responses , akin to ChatGPT.

An appeals court upheld Steve Bannon’s conviction for defying a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee. He could soon have to serve prison time.

A Virginia school board voted to restore the names of Confederate leaders — including Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson — to two schools, reversing its 2020 decision to rename them .

CULTURE CALENDAR

By Desiree Ibekwe

🎥 Back to Black (Friday): You may well have seen the online discussion about this movie, an Amy Winehouse biopic directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The movie — which focuses on Winehouse’s relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil — was No. 1 at the British box office but divided viewers and critics, some of whom found fault with the appearance of its star, Marisa Abela. “I don’t need to convince people that they’re actually watching Amy,” Abela told The Times . “I need to remind people of her soul.”

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

By Melissa Clark

Strawberry Shortcake

It’s Mother’s Day tomorrow, and if your mom has a sweet tooth (and if so, I can relate), Jane Grigson’s strawberry shortcake as adapted by Nancy Harmon Jenkins might be just the thing for a celebratory brunch. Make the biscuit dough and cut out the rounds the day before (just keep them in the fridge until baking time). Then, while they’re in the oven, you can macerate the berries (any kind you like) with sugar and prep the whipped cream. Be sure to save any leftover biscuits. They’re excellent toasted for breakfast the next day.

REAL ESTATE

The hunt: An American took a chance on the Lake Geneva area of Eastern France, with a $300,000 budget. Which home did she buy? Play our game .

What you get for $900,000: A Frank Lloyd Wright house in Wilmette, Ill.; an 1879 three-bedroom house in Wilmington, N.C.; or a renovated ranch house in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Free help: A filmmaker, feeling unhelpful in her daily life, decided to offer small favors to passers-by in Union Square.

Made for walking: Brides are increasingly pairing cowboy boots with relaxed silhouetted dresses.

Scarlett Johansson: The actress shared her beauty regimen with T Magazine.

How to: Restoring a chair is easier than one might think . Here’s how a couple known as the Brownstone Boys did it.

ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER

Food processors, blenders and choppers.

Countertop appliances can help you get a meal on the table faster, often with less work and a quicker cleanup. But deciding which gizmo is best for you can be a challenge. It depends on what kinds of foods you most frequently prepare, Wirecutter’s kitchen experts say. For example, if your main goal is to reduce the time you spend prepping ingredients, a food processor is likely your best bet. If you demand the smoothest, silkiest textures from your soups, sauces and smoothies (and have ample storage space), consider a full-size blender. Oh, and those TikTok-famous manual vegetable choppers ? No one needs those. — Rose Lorre

GAMES OF THE WEEK

W.N.B.A. season openers: A once-in-a-generation group enters the W.N.B.A. next week. You may already know their names: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso. Their college matchups shattered viewership records, and their pro draft last month did the same. The W.N.B.A. is trying to seize the moment: Nearly all of Clark’s games with the Indiana Fever will be national broadcasts , and some of her games are moving to bigger arenas to meet fan demand.

The season begins Tuesday, as Clark and the Fever face the Connecticut Sun and M.V.P. contender Alyssa Thomas. After that, the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces play Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury. 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2

More coverage

Clark and Cardoso are featured in a documentary series , “Full Court Press,” airing on ABC this weekend, which follows them through their final season of college.

The W.N.B.A. is expanding : The league plans to add a 13th team, in the San Francisco area, next season, and a 14th, in Toronto, the year after.

NOW TIME TO PLAY

Here is today’s Spelling Bee . Yesterday’s pangram was uncloak .

Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines.

And here are today’s Mini Crossword , Wordle , Sudoku , Connections and Strands .

Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox . Reach our team at [email protected] .

Melissa Kirsch is the deputy editor of Culture and Lifestyle at The Times and writes The Morning newsletter on Saturdays. More about Melissa Kirsch

University of Idaho Murder: Former Roommate Who Moved Out 6 Months Before Speaks Up

A friend and former roommate of the University of Idaho students who were killed in their home in 2022 has spoken up about the last message she ever sent to her friend Madison Mogen.

Ashlin Couch was worried when she received a campus alert about a suspected homicide on the same street that she used to live on — the street where her friends Madison, 21, and Kaylee Gonclaves, 21, had still lived. "I texted our group of friends and I had said, ‘Has anyone heard from Maddie?'" she told "Good Morning America." "I remember my last text message to her was: 'Are you OK?' I feel like right then and there, I kind of just knew that something was wrong."

Ashlin explained to KXLY that she moved into a house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho with her friends Kaylee and Madison in 2020. She moved out in May 2022, she told the outlet, and Xana Kernodle, 20, took over her lease.

Six months later, in November 2022, Kaylee, Madison, Xana and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, were killed in the house, which was demolished in December 2023.

Ashlin told KXLY that after the murders, she struggled to feel safe and couldn't walk to her car in the dark. The fact that she had lived in the house before also crossed her mind.

"It crosses my mind more that, that could have happened while I was there. And, you know, you never know like how long someone is watching your house," she told the outlet.

More from LittleThings: How 'Trip Of A Lifetime' To Mexico Turned Deadly For Travelers From US And Australia

She still wishes that she could "give her one last hug. Just to be able to say goodbye," she told "Good Morning America."

Bryan Kohberger, 29, has been accused of stabbing the four University of Idaho students. He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. His attorney has claimed that he was not in Moscow at the time of the murders and instead "was out driving in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022; as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars," as per the New York Post .

Ukraine war latest: Armed ship destroyed in Crimea, Kyiv says; controversial US television host launches show in Russia

Ukraine says it hit and destroyed the Russian missile ship Tsiklon in Crimea over the weekend. Meanwhile, analysts say Moscow is seeking to draw out Kyiv's forces - as Putin makes another significant change to his cabinet.

Wednesday 22 May 2024 14:47, UK

• Kyiv claims it has destroyed last Russian warship armed with cruise missiles in Crimea
• Tucker Carlson launches new show in Russia
• Putin sacks minister in new sign of shift in war strategy
• European country now pushing to let Ukraine strike deep into Russia with Western weapons
• Russia using 'understaffed and incohesive forces' in bid to draw out Ukrainian troops
• Big picture: What you need to know as war enters new week

As we've not been providing rolling coverage of the war in Ukraine today, here is a quick update on what's been happening since this morning. 

One of the most significant new stories is the UK accusing China of providing or preparing to provide lethal aid to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. 

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps told a news conference this morning that US and British defence intelligence had evidence "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine".

He called this a "significant development".

We also heard from the Kremlin this morning, which said "in-depth dialogue" was needed to reduce rising tensions between Russia and the West - particularly with regards to nuclear issues. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused the "collective West" of refusing to engage with Russia despite the potential dangers. 

Here are more of the top stories: 

• Russian forces have taken over the village of Klishchiivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, close to the city of Bakhmut, according to Russian news agencies 
• At least nine people have been injured in a Russian air attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
• Russia accused Ukraine of using a drone to attack a non-nuclear facility at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, causing no critical damage
• Moscow said it is bolstering its efforts to protect its energy infrastructure from drone attacks
• Six children were handed over to Ukraine by Russia and reunited with their families, after a deal was brokered by Qatar. 

We're pausing our coverage of the Ukraine war for the moment.

Scroll through the blog below to catch up on today's developments.

Vladimir Putin has praised the late president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and said he was a "reliable partner".

Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border over the weekend along with his foreign minister and seven others.

Speaking on the leader, Mr Putin said he was "a man of his word" who carried out any agreements the pair made.

"He was truly a reliable partner, a man sure of himself, who acted in the national interest," Russian news agencies quoted Mr Putin as telling Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of Russia's lower house of parliament.

"He was, of course, a man of his word and it was always good to work with him. What I mean is if we came to an agreement on something, you could be sure the agreement was carried out."

The Kremlin leader asked Mr Volodin, who will be attending memorial events in Iran, to pass on "words of our sincere condolences in connection with this tragedy".

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has strengthened political, trade and military ties with Iran in a deepening relationship that the US and Israel view with concern.

Heavy fighting in the Pokrovsk area in eastern Ukraine has forced Ukrainian troops to engage in "manoeuvres," the Ukrainian military's general staff have said.

Their report said Pokrovsk, northwest of the Russian-held city of Donetsk, remains the front's "hottest" sector.

"In some areas, the situation requires our troops to engage in manoeuvres," the general staff report reads.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has referred to the region and adjacent areas as "extraordinarily difficult" in his nightly video address.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said allies are taking too long when it comes to decisions on military support for Ukraine.

In an interview with Reuters, the Ukrainian leader said every decision which everyone came to was "late by around one year".

"But it is what it is: one big step forward, but before that two steps back. So we need to change the paradigm a little bit," he said.

"When we're quick, they fall behind. And then there's a gap - six, eight months of unpassed (aid) packages, and then two-three months of supplies - and a year goes by. We would like not to lose the advantage."

Mr Zelenskyy also said Ukraine had never used Western weapons on Russian territory.

A senior Russian diplomat has said that the EU plan to channel profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine would have "unpredictable" consequences, according to the TASS news agency.

According to TASS, Kirill Logvinov, Russia's acting permanent representative to the EU in Brussels, told Russia journalists: "The only predictable thing is that those in the EU will be obliged sooner or later to return to our country what has been stolen."

For context : In March the European Commission proposed transferring to Ukraine profits generated by Russian central bank assets frozen in Europe.

The plan would see 90% channeled through the European Peace Facility fund to buy weapons for Ukraine. 

The rest would be used for recovery and reconstruction.

Russia's defence ministry has said it has begun a round of drills involving tactical nuclear weapons. 

The exercises were announced by Russian authorities this month in response to remarks by senior Western officials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

It was the first time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises.

According to the ministry's statement, the first stage of the new drills include nuclear-capable Kinzhal and Iskander missiles.

The maneuvers are taking place in the southern military district, which consists of Russian regions in the south.

A Moscow court has ordered a Russian journalist who covered the trials of the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and other dissidents must  remain in custody pending an investigation and trial on charges of extremism.

Antonina Favorskaya was arrested in March. 

She is accused of collecting material, producing and editing videos and publications for Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption, which had been outlawed as extremist by Russian authorities, according to court officials.

Today, Moscow's Basmanny district court ordered that she remain in custody until at least 3 August.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, said earlier that Ms Favorskaya did not publish anything on the foundation's platforms and suggested that Russian authorities have targeted her because she was doing her job as a journalist.

Former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson has launched his own show in Russia.

The controversial US media personality, who this year became the first Western journalist to interview Vladimir Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine, will host his show on the state-owned Russia 24 (Rossiya 24).

In the first episode, Carlson will discuss the dangers of ticks and Lyme disease.

Who is Carlson?

Carlson, who has been a vocal supporter of Mr Putin in the past, was sacked from Fox News in April last year.

He took up the prime-time weekday evenings spot on Fox News in 2016 with his show Tucker Carlson Tonight, and quickly established himself as a key player in the network and an influential voice in Republican politics.

The presenter often embraced conspiracy theories and far-right issues. He repeatedly questioned the efficacy of COVID vaccines and compared mandates to "Nazi experiments".

While he found success with viewers, his inflammatory comments caused some advertisers to distance themselves from the programme.

After his departure from Fox News he rebooted his show on X last year, calling Elon Musk's site the last big remaining platform to allow free speech.

Ukraine says it has destroyed the last Russian warship armed with cruise missiles that was stationed on the occupied peninsula of Crimea.

It comes after we reported earlier comments by Ukraine's military, which said they had hit the Russian missile ship Tsiklon (see post at 3.09pm).

Ukraine's military reported conducting a long-range attack that destroyed the Russian minesweeping navy vessel on Sunday and said it needed more time to confirm what else had been damaged.

"According to updated information, the Ukrainian defence forces hit a Russian project 22800 Tsiklon missile ship in Sevastopol, on the night of 19 May," the general staff said today.

The Ukrainian navy later said on X that the vessel had been "destroyed".

Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the Tsiklon was Russia's "last cruise missile carrier" based on the peninsula.

Tsiklon never fired a cruise missile while on active service, Mr Pletenchuk said in televised comments.

Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 and is home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet headquarters at Sevastopol.

The Russian defence ministry has not commented.

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