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When fire alarms failed, this woman livestreamed her escape from the Hong Kong apartment inferno to warn other residents. The live-in nanny rescued her employer’s baby as she raced down 23 flights of stairs at the Wang Fuk Court complex, where at least 146 people lost their lives.

Australia is handing out record numbers of visas to young backpackers and Brits are snapping up the most, with nearly 80,000 young British nationals heading Down Under

Australia is giving out a record number of short-term visas to backpackers. And a huge number of them are young Brits heading Down Under for the adventure of a lifetime. There were 321,000 working holiday visas issued last year, up more than a third on the previous 12 months. Young people from the United Kingdom are leading the trend, making up a quarter of all backpacker visas That means nearly 80,000 Brits headed to Oz last year. They’re taking advantage of new rules that lifted the maximum age for British working holidaymakers and dumped requirement they spend 88 days each year doing regional work.

Matthew Heyes, founder of employment site Backpacker Job Board, said there had been a clear surge in the visa class this year, with global economic conditions a driving force.

He said: “Australia has just set a new record for visa grants, and the first quarter suggests we will go even higher. We’re seeing issues like the cost of living and stagnant wages motivate young people to make the trip.” New rules brought in by former PM Scott Morrison have led to the surge.

Former Immigration Department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi said the working holidaymaker programme was going from strength to strength. He said: “Demand was inevitably going to be strong when we made it more generous, as we did. Australia is popular among Brits, and this is the first year we’ve seen the full effect of the agreement initially negotiated by Scott Morrison.

“It will have to peak at some stage, and it depends very much on our labour market – our labour market is certainly strong, and the UK’s is not as strong.”

Last year was the first time young Brits were no longer required to work and live in regional Australia to extend their stay. The number of visas issued to working holidaymakers from the UK soared from 47,000 in 2023-34 to a record 79,000 in 2024-25.

The raised eligible age for Brits, from 30 to 35, which came into effect the year before, resulted in 9100 visas being issued to that age group last financial year.

They are also staying longer overall: there were 28,600 second-year visas given to UK residents last financial year, up from 6300 the year before, and 8400 third-year visas, up from 680.

Visas issued to UK residents outstrip those from other leading nations, including France (42,000 visas issued in 2024-25), Ireland (24,100), Japan (16,000) and Germany (16,000). These visa holders still must work regionally to stay longer in Australia.

Before the 321,000 working holidaymaker visas issued in 2024-25, the highest number granted in one year was 258,000 in 2012-13.

The boom is being driven by a strong local jobs market and comparably tougher economic conditions for young people overseas. Many of Australia’s long-standing working holidaymaker agreements, including with the UK, are uncapped

Dick and Angel Strawbridge shared an exciting filming update as fans react to how grown up their children Arthur and Dorothy look in new pictures

The Strawbridge clan have shared an exciting filming development.

Dick and Angel Strawbridge are recognised for featuring on the restoration programme, which debuted in 2016 following the pair’s acquisition of a French château in 2015.

The reality TV series documented Dick, Angel and their brood as they purchased and refurbished the 19th-century estate in France, whilst bringing up two youngsters and launching a venture hosting nuptials and various occasions.

Throughout the years, audiences adored witnessing the household transform the residence to their taste.

Supporters were thrilled last month when it was revealed the programme would be making a return with series 10 currently being produced, reports the Liverpool Echo.

A fresh development has been shared by the household ahead of the upcoming instalments.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday (November 23), the official profile of the Strawbridge family posted a photograph of Dick and Angel positioned in the snow, before their French residence and additional images of their offspring, Arthur and Dorothy.

The post was captioned: “Hello to you on this Super Sunday! Christmas came early this weekend at the Chateau…Not only did it snow and Arthur and Dorothy got to catch snowflakes with their tongues.

“We got to film something rather special with the perfect weather conditions! We can’t wait to share it with you. Have a lovely evening!”

Viewers of the Channel 4 programme shared comments and demonstrated their backing for the family. Numerous fans were astonished by how mature the children had become, having first graced our screens as youngsters.

One viewer remarked: “Oh my goodness how grown up are the kids now” whilst another contributed “Such beautiful pictures, Arthur and Dorothy are growing up so quick.”

An additional response quipped “Are you two shrinking, or are these kids getting real grown up” while others penned “Your family is growing up. Happy Holidays” and “Cannot wait to watch the Strawbridge Family Christmas magic again! ! ! Thank you so much for coming back to us!”.

Revealing the news of series 10 last month, the family declared: “We are delighted to announce that we are officially back in production for Escape to the Chateau, Series 10!”.

“It’s been wonderful welcoming back our Escape filming family – the unsung heroes behind the cameras. Since we first fell in love with the Chateau in 2014, it has taken us on the journey of a lifetime.

“In 2022, we made the important decision to take a break from filming and concluded Series 9 with the most incredible and magical celebration we could have ever imagined.”

The announcement shared by the family continued: “Now, as a family, we’ve stepped into a new era. With Arthur and Dorothy happily settled into college, Series 10 brings more change and growth than the Chateau has ever seen!

“We promised that when the time was right for our family, we’d invite the cameras back in to give you an update – and maybe even a Christmas Special…and that time is now! Thank you for being part of our story – we can’t wait to share this next magical chapter with you.”

Dick and Angel along with their two youngsters, Arthur and Dorothy, have called the estate home for over 10 years and continue to make their mark on the magnificent property. The pair frequently post pictures of their breathtaking grounds on social media and offer glimpses into parts of the château that viewers seldom saw during the programme.

Escape to the Chateau is available to stream on Channel 4 online

President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pictured speaking at the United Nations in 2023, has come under increased scrutiny as captors have carried out two mass school student kidnappings in a week. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 23 (UPI) — A group of 50 schoolchildren who were kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Niger state Friday have escaped, the Christian Association of Nigeria reported Sunday. More than 250 people remain in captivity.

The students range in age from 15 to 18 and escaped between Friday and Saturday, the Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of CAN said Sunday.

Some of the students hid in bushes to escape their captors, Bloomberg reported. Local farmers helped the children escape, according to Daniel Atori a St. Mary’s schools spokesperson.

School abductions have become more frequent in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, and symbolic of growing insecurity and fear in the region, led by armed gangs targeting schools and demanding ransom for captured students.

The latest round of kidnappings has prompted international concern, and focused scrutiny on broader issues such as government-backed security, access to education and the vulnerability of communities in northern Nigeria.

The latest incident happened as the world’s political and religious leaders, as well as top entertainment personalities, have spoken out against the lack of safety for children in the region, including President Donald Trump, Pope Leo XIV and hip hop artist Nicki Minaj.

In the latest incident, gunmen entered the boarding school early on Friday and took 315 people — 303 students and 12 teachers and staff, remain captive, CAN reported.

The St. Mary’s incident was the second mass kidnapping in the past week, which has increased scrutiny on Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to better police the issue and offer better security for school children.

The island is just a four-and-a-half hour flight from London and offers year-round sunshine, with flowers beginning to bloom in March

Brits seeking a sun-soaked escape might want to consider this English-speaking island, just a short hop from the UK and basking in a cosy 22C during winter.

Just a four-and-a-half hour jaunt from London, this Mediterranean jewel provides a much-needed respite from the UK’s current frosty, damp weather.

With sunshine all year round and flowers starting to blossom in March, Cyprus is an excellent pick for families, with plenty of family-friendly hotels on offer.

The island also boasts a variety of activities, from hiking to exploring cultural and historical sites. Winter brings fewer tourists, making it the ideal time to visit popular attractions without the long queues, reports the Express.

Party animals will be attracted to Ayia Napa, one of Europe’s premier party hotspots, while those in search of relaxation can soak up the island’s 300 days of annual sunshine.

A journey into the Troodos Mountains reveals breathtaking scenery and a charming village nestled in the valley below.

In an unexpected twist, there’s a ski resort tucked away in the Troodos Mountain Range. Open from January to March, it’s situated on Mount Olympus,

Holidaymakers can drive up to the slopes, which offer several picturesque viewpoints along the way.

Nestled in the valley is the village of Omodos, teeming with restaurants serving traditional dishes – perfect after a day of mountain trekking.

The village is also home to a monastery that welcomes visitors for tours. A local fortified sweet wine, commandaria, is a favourite in the area and can be found on locals’ doorsteps for €2-€5 (£1.61-£4.23).

Another must-see is Nicosia, Cyprus’ divided capital. Following the 1974 civil war, the island was split into two states: the Greek Republic of Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The border, known as the ‘green line’, runs through Nicosia, making it the world’s only divided capital city. Tourists can cross the border at several points.

Other attractions include underwater waterfall hikes, a turtle conservation station, Aphrodite’s Rock, the Tombs of the Kings, snorkelling adventures, Akamas Peninsula National Park, castles and even a wellness retreat.