In explaining the U.S. incursion into Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro, President Trump accused Maduro and his wife of conducting a “campaign of deadly narco-terrorism against the United States and its citizens,” and Maduro of being “the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.”
“Hundreds of thousands — over the years — of Americans died because of him,” Trump said hours after U.S. special forces dragged Maduro from his bedroom during a raid that killed more than 50 Venezuelan and Cuban military and security forces.
Experts in regional narcotics trafficking said Trump was clearly trying to justify the U.S. deposing a sitting head of state by arguing that Maduro was not just a corrupt foreign leader harming his own country but also a major player in the sweeping epidemic of overdoses that has devastated American communities.
They also said they are highly suspicious of those claims, which were offered up with little evidence and run counter to years of independent research into regional drug trafficking patterns. Countries such as Mexico and Colombia play much larger roles, and fentanyl — not the cocaine Maduro is charged with trafficking — causes the vast majority of American deaths, the research shows.
Maduro’s indictment spells out some overt criminal acts allegedly committed by him, including selling diplomatic passwords to known drug traffickers so they could avoid military and law enforcement scrutiny in Venezuela.
Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives at the U.S. Capitol on Monday to brief top lawmakers after President Trump directed U.S. forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
(Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)
It alleges other crimes in broad strokes, such as Maduro and his wife allegedly ordering “kidnappings, beatings, and murders” against people who “undermined their drug trafficking operation.”
However, Trump’s claims about the scope and impact of Maduro’s alleged actions go far beyond what the indictment details, experts said.
“It’s very hard to respond to the level of bulls— that is being promoted by this administration, because there’s no evidence given whatsoever, and it goes against what we think we know as specialists,” said Paul Gootenberg, a professor emeritus of history and sociology at Stony Brook University who has long studied the cocaine trade. “All of it goes against what we think we know.”
“President Trump’s claim that hundreds of thousands of Americans have died due to drug trafficking linked to Maduro is inaccurate,” said Philip Berry, a former United Kingdom counter-narcotics official and a visiting senior lecturer at the Centre for Defence Studies at King’s College London.
“[F]entanyl, not cocaine, has been responsible for most drug-related deaths in the U.S. over the past decade,” he said.
Jorja Leap, a social welfare professor and executive director of the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership who has spent years interviewing gang members and drug dealers in the L.A. region, said Trump’s hyper-focus on Maduro, Venezuela and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as driving forces within the U.S. drug trade not only belies reality but also belittles the work of researchers who know better.
“Aside from making it a political issue, this is disrespecting the work of researchers, social activists, community organizers and law enforcement who have worked on this problem on the ground and understand every aspect of it,” Leap said. “This is political theater.”
Venezuela’s role
The U.S. State Department’s 2024 International Narcotics Strategy Report called Venezuela “a major transit country for cocaine shipments via aerial, terrestrial, and maritime routes,” with most of the drugs originating in Colombia and passing through other Central American countries or Caribbean islands on their way to the U.S.
Federal officers stand guard outside the Metropolitan Detention Center.
(Leonardo Munoz / AFP via Getty Images)
However, the same report said recent estimates put the volume of cocaine trafficked through Venezuela at about 200 to 250 metric tons per year, or “roughly 10 to 13 percent of estimated global production.” According to the United Nations 2025 World Drug Report, most cocaine from Colombia is instead trafficked “along the Pacific Coast northward,” including through Ecuador.
The same report and others make clear Venezuela does not play a substantial role in fentanyl production or trafficking.
The State Department’s 2024 report said Mexico was “the sole significant source of illicit fentanyl … significantly affecting” the U.S., and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment said Mexican organizations “dominate fentanyl transportation into and through the United States.”
The Trump administration suggested Venezuela has played a larger role in cocaine production and transport in recent years under Maduro, who they allege has partnered with major trafficking organizations in Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico.
Maduro pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in Manhattan federal court this week, saying he was “kidnapped” by the U.S.
While many experts and other political observers acknowledge Maduro’s corruption and believe he has profited from drug trafficking, they question the Trump administration’s characterization of his actions as a “narco-terrorist” assault on the U.S.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the Trump ally turned foe who this week stepped down from her House seat, condemned the raid as more about controlling Venezuela’s oil than dismantling the drug trade, in part by noting that far greater volumes of much deadlier drugs arrive to the U.S. from Mexico.
“If it was about drugs killing Americans, they would be bombing Mexican cartels,” Greene posted.
The Trump administration pushed back against such arguments, even as Trump has threatened other nations in the region.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrator Terry Cole said on Fox News that “at a low estimate,” 100 tons of cocaine have been produced and shipped to the U.S. by groups working with Maduro.
Expert input
Gootenberg said there’s no doubt that some Colombian cocaine crosses the border into Venezuela, but that much of it goes onward to Europe and growing markets in Brazil and Asia, and there’s no evidence large amounts reach the U.S.
“The whole thing is a fiction, and I do believe they know that,” he said of the Trump administration.
Berry said Venezuela is “a transit country for cocaine” but “a relatively minor player in the international drug trade” overall, with only a “small portion” of the cocaine that passes through it reaching the U.S.
Both also questioned the Trump administration labeling Maduro’s government a “narco-terrorism” regime. Gootenberg said the term arose decades ago to describe governments whose national revenues were substantially connected to drug proceeds, such as Bolivia in the 1980s, but it was always a “propagandistic idea” and had gone “defunct” as modern governments, including Venezuela’s, diversified their economies.
The Trump administration’s move to revive the term comes as no surprise given “the way they pick up atavistic labels that they think will be useful, like ‘Make America Great Again,’” Gootenberg said. But “there’s no there there.”
Berry said use of the term “narco-terrorism” has oversimplified the “diverse and context-specific connections” between the drug industry and global terrorism, and as a result “led to the conflation of counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism efforts, frequently resulting in hyper-militarised and ineffective policy responses.”
Gootenberg said Maduro was a corrupt authoritarian who stole an election and certainly had knowledge of drug trafficking through his country, but the notion he’d somehow become a “mastermind” with leverage over transnational drug organizations is far-fetched.
Several experts said they doubted his capture would have a sizable effect on the U.S. drug trade.
“Negligible. Marginal. Whatever word you want to use to indicate the most minor of impacts,” said Leap, of UCLA.
The Sinaloa Cartel — one of Maduro’s alleged partners, according to his indictment — is a major player in Southern California’s drug trade, with the Mexican Mafia serving as middleman between the cartel and local drug gangs, Leap said. But “if anyone tries to connect this to what is happening now in Venezuela, they do not understand the nature of drug distribution, street gangs, the Mexican Mafia, everything that goes on in Southern California. There is no connection.”
Berry said in the wake of Maduro’s capture, “numerous state and nonstate actors involved in the illegal narcotics trade remain unaffected.”
Jesy Nelson has opened up about her twin daughters’ devastating genetic condition and how they may never walk in an emotional interview on ITV’s This Morning
12:28, 07 Jan 2026Updated 12:38, 07 Jan 2026
Jesy Nelson has revealed the extreme lengths she takes to make sure her twins can breathe at night following their devastating muscular atrophy diagnosis. The Little Mix star announced on Sunday that her twins had been diagnosed with the rare genetic condition spinal muscular atrophy and may never walk.
The 34-year-old welcomed daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster prematurely back in May with her musician fiancé Zion Foster, 27. Speaking in a video on Instagram at the weekend, Jesy told her fans that Ocean and Story have the most severe form of the disease, which sees muscles deteriorate over time, and that she’s now a nurse to the twins.
She added that she took them to the GP when her mum noticed they weren’t moving as much as they should. “The girls have been diagnosed with a severe disease called SMA type one. It stands for spinal muscular atrophy which affects every muscle in the body from legs, arms to swallowing,” she said.
Speaking on This Morning today, Jesy revealed that her twins exhibited early symptoms of SMA – but she didn’t know what they meant. Fighting tears, she told Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: “That is the part that frustrates me the most. I knew and saw all of the signs before I knew what SMA was.
“It was weird because from when I was in NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit], the way they used to lay on my chest, they would have frog leg position. I did say to my mum, ‘Isn’t their belly an unusual shape? They breathe from their belly.’
“That’s what frustrating – for me, if these were the cards I was always going to be dealt and there was nothing I could do about it, it would be easier for me to accept. But when you know there is something that can be done about it and it is lifechanging to your child, that’s the bit that I cannot accept.”
She added that it makes her “so sad” to watch videos which show the twins gradually losing use of their legs over the course of weeks. “That’s how quick it is and that is why it’s so important to get treatment from birth,” she said.
Jesy went on to reveal that her house was “looks like a hospital” with all of the medical equipment needed to keep the twins alive.
“Story has to be on a breathing machine at night because she isn’t strong enough to breathe by herself at night,” she said. “They have to have Cough Assist machines to help them cough, I have to put feeding tubes down their nose to get secretions off their chest.
“I’ve had to learn this within the space of a few days of getting their diagnosis. It’s so much to deal with while you’re also trying to deal with this horrendous thing that’s just happened.”
Sharing an update on the twins, she said that doctors have told her that they won’t be able to walk, regain neck strength and will be in wheelchairs. However, Jesy isn’t giving up hope.
“There have been so many stories where parents have been told this and then their children have gone on to do incredible things,” she said.
“So I believe you have to manifest this into existence. They’re still smiling, they’re still happy and they have each other.”
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at SMA UK. You can get in touch by phoning 01789 267520 or by emailing office@smauk.org.uk.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
United States President Donald Trump has promised to “take back” Venezuela’s oil reserves and unleash them onto the global market after abducting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
But exploiting the Latin American country’s vast reserves would face a host of big hurdles, from decrepit infrastructure and legal obstacles to leadership uncertainty in Caracas and an excess supply of oil in the global market, experts say.
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Venezuela possesses the world’s largest known oil reserves – estimated to be some 303 billion barrels – but currently produces only a tiny fraction of global output. Its estimated output was 860,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, less than 1 percent of the world’s total, compared with 3.7 million bpd during peak production in 1970.
The oil sector’s decline has been blamed on the combined effects of US sanctions and years of underinvestment, mismanagement and corruption under Maduro and his left-wing predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
While the Trump administration could boost supply in the short term by lifting sanctions, restoring Venezuela’s output to anything near peak levels would require huge investment and likely take years, according to energy analysts.
‘Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is in poor shape’
Oil prices moved only slightly in trading on Monday amid market expectations that output would remain largely unchanged for the foreseeable future.
“Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is in poor shape overall, due to lack of maintenance for both equipment and oilfield wells,” Scott Montgomery, a global energy expert at the University of Washington, told Al Jazeera.
“The state oil company, PDVSA, is well known to suffer from corruption and lack of expertise – many well-trained people have left the country to work elsewhere – and has been unable to invest in the country’s petroleum sector,” Montgomery added.
Thomas O’Donnell, an energy and geopolitical analyst based in Berlin, Germany, estimated that Venezuela could return to peak production in five to seven years in the “absolute best” circumstances, including a peaceful transfer of power.
“Longer term, if things are sorted out, yes, Venezuela can become one of the world’s biggest producers of oil. As far as how long that takes, that has all to do with the transition and what is put in place to manage that – both the country’s security and also to manage the investments,” O’Donnell told Al Jazeera.
Mixed messaging from Trump administration
Trump’s administration has provided conflicting messages on Washington’s exact plans for Venezuela and its oil reserves.
On Saturday, Trump said the US would “run” Venezuela and that US oil companies were ready to invest billions of dollars to build up the country’s dilapidated infrastructure and “get the oil flowing”.
In interviews with US media on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay Trump’s remarks about controlling the country, saying the president was referring to “running policy” and his plans related to spurring private investment, “not securing the oilfields”.
Trump later on Sunday said Washington was “in charge” of the country and was “dealing with” members of the acting administration without providing details.
Under international law, the US has no claim of ownership over Venezuela’s oil reserves, as sovereign states possess the right to control and use their natural resources under the United Nations-endorsed Principle of Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources.
Foreign investors, however, can claim compensation when authorities seize their assets.
ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips were awarded $1.6bn and $8.7bn, respectively, in international arbitration following the Chavez government’s 2007 nationalisation of the oil sector. Caracas did not pay out in either case.
US oil giants, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, have not commented directly on Trump’s claims about planned investments in Venezuela.
Chevron is the only large US oil company currently operating in Venezuela, the result of an exemption to US sanctions first granted by the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Consultancy Rystad Energy, based in Oslo, Norway, has estimated that Venezuela’s oil sector would need about $110bn in capital investment to return to its mid-2010s output of about 2 million bpd.
Patrick De Haan, an analyst at energy price tracker GasBuddy, said companies may be reluctant to commit to large investments in the country when global oil prices are hovering around $60 a barrel due to a glut of supply.
“It will take a longer amount of time than many likely realise. Oil companies in a low-priced environment of today would likely be cautious investing billions with oil prices already low,” De Haan told Al Jazeera.
“In addition, Trump seizing Maduro could lead to loyalists sabotaging efforts to increase output. A lot would have to go right to yield the most optimistic timelines.”
US companies are likely to carefully weigh political developments in Venezuela following their experiences with the Chavez government’s expropriation of their assets.
“Oil companies are not likely to rush into a situation where the state is in turmoil, security is lacking, and no clear path forward for political stability exists,” the University of Washington’s Montgomery said.
Maduro due in court in New York
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s deputy, is now leading the country following a ruling by Venezuela’s Supreme Court.
Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Monday to face charges related to alleged drug trafficking and working with criminal gangs.
Venezuela’s government has condemned the Trump administration over Saturday’s bombing and overthrow of Maduro, labelling his capture a “cowardly kidnapping”.
Russia, China, Iran and Brazil, among other countries, have accused Washington of violating international law, while nations including Israel, Argentina and Greece have welcomed Maduro’s forced removal.
OPEC, which sets limits on production for its 12 members, including Venezuela, is another factor in the Latin American country’s potential oil output.
“Venezuela is a member of OPEC, and like many countries, may become more actively subject to quotas if output climbs,” De Haan said.
Phil Flynn, a market analyst at the Price Futures Group, said reviving Venezuela’s oil production would face “significant challenges”, but he was more bullish about the near-term prospects than other analysts.
He said the market could conceivably see a couple of hundred thousand more barrels a day coming online in the coming months.
“We’ve not had a free Venezuela, and sometimes the US energy industry has the capability to do a lot more than people give them credit for,” Flynn told Al Jazeera.
Many people book a January holiday to feel refreshed and recharged, but it could be a mistake if you don’t do your research – here’s what to look for
(Image: Getty Images)
As the UK looks set to be covered in snow over the next few days, many Brits will be looking to book a holiday somewhere warmer.
January is the most popular month for British people to book holidays as the cold sets in, but if you’re one of them then it’s a wise idea to exercise caution, as travel experts warn that some hotels may subtly cut corners during the quieter winter months.
Experts warn that booking hotels in January can be fraught with risk if travellers aren’t aware of what to look out for as some hotels alter their operations once the festive season is over.
But the good news is it’s still possible to bag a bargain holiday and save money, as long as you know the red flags to look out for, according to Ski Vertigo.
1. Significant discounts with ambiguous descriptions.
While substantial price reductions can be enticing in January, experts caution that vague listings often indicate a change. This could encompass closed amenities, restricted services or rooms that aren’t typically available during peak periods.
2. Lack of winter facilities information.
Hotels which don’t explicitly outline their winter operations should raise eyebrows. Factors such as heating, transport accessibility and food options can all be impacted during the colder months. If a hotel fails to clarify this, travellers may find themselves faced with limited services upon arrival.
3. Negative or outdated reviews from winter stays.
Travel gurus suggest that holidaymakers often only consider reviews from summer holidays. Those planning a January getaway are advised to sift through recent winter stay reviews. Complaints about chilly rooms, poor food or closed facilities should raise red flags.
4. Reduced staff or services.
January is a period when many hotels cut back on their workforce. This can result in slower check-in times, limited housekeeping and fewer dining options. If a hotel fails to clearly outline what services are on offer, experts recommend erring on the side of caution.
5. Promising luxury at bargain prices.
Hotels offering spa access, gourmet dining and premium extras at surprisingly low prices in January may not live up to guests’ expectations. Amenities may operate on reduced hours or incur additional charges. ABTA’s industry guidance advises travellers to always verify what’s included in off-peak stays and to confirm facilities directly with accommodation providers prior to booking.
Travel pundits assert that January isn’t a poor time to travel, but it’s a month where meticulous planning is more crucial than ever. A spokesperson from Ski Vertigo highlights that travellers often presume all hotels operate the same way throughout the year, which is seldom the case once the peak season concludes.
Rather than hunting for bargains, specialists recommend prioritising clear communication, recent reviews, and accommodation tailored for winter travel.
ALREADY thinking of taking a break to Italy, France or further afield but don’t want to spend a huge amount?
Well, Skyscannerhas revealed thetop ten cheapest destinations to fly to for 2026 – and the first three with bargain flights are less than three hours away from the UK.
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The cheapest city break to fly to is the French city of LyonCredit: AlamyMilan is also a cheap city break destination – with one-way flights from £15Credit: Alamy
Claiming number one spot for cheapest city break is Lyon in France with an average return flight cost of £105.
However, there are one-way flights for as little as £17 in March with Wizz Air.
Lyon is the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, known for being a ‘foodie destination’ with plenty of traditional restaurants called ‘bouchons’.
She said: “First, get a pastry to go from Marchesi 1824, one of the city’s oldest bakeries for a classic breakfast of a cappuccino and croissant. While Milan is famous for its saffron risotto, a stop at a pizza bar is a must.
“I recommend Pizza AM where you even get free mini starters and prosecco.
“Squeeze in a quick visit of the famous Duomo di Milano as well as the Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to the famous Last Supper artwork.”
Skyscanner discovered average return flights of £114 – in February, you can get one-way flights from £15 with Ryanair.
A must-visit is the Parque del Retiro, a quiet park where you can rent a rowboat on a picturesque lake, pretty rose gardens and the historic Crystal Palace.
Or, enjoy a picnic at the lake of Casa de Campo, Madrid‘s largest public park.
Then head to the vibrant neighbourhood of Lavapies – full of energy and history, it is one of the best spots to get an authentic local experience in the city.
For the best views, head to the Sky Bar terrace on the 27th floor of the Hotel Riu Plaza Espana, in the grand Edificio Espana on Madrid’s Gran Via, offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the city.
Other cheap city breaks include to Copenhagen in DenmarkCredit: Alamy
To help Brits get the most out of their breaks, Skyscanner has launched its ‘Cheapest Destination Planner’.
First, head to the Skyscanner app – then select the month you want to travel.
The tool will reveal the top 10 cheapest destinations (on average) for that month.
You’ll see the top reasons to visit and average price for a return flight alongside the cheapest days to travel.
Once you’ve made your choice, click through to explore flights and/or hotel options for your chosen destination.
The Top 10 Cheapest City Breaks for 2026
Skyscanner has revealed these 10 destinations to be the cheapest for a break this year…
WE HAVE officially entered ski season, and with that, experts have revealed the best spots for young families to escape to.
Skiing as a child-free grown up is VERY different to when you have kids in tow, when the number of blue ski runs, ski schools and hotels that actually allow kids in the spa become more important than the quality apres ski.
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Flaine is known for having great ski slopes for both beginners and expertsCredit: Alamy
Fortunately, experts at Crystal Ski have rounded up the best spots for young families and they include a lot more than just snow.
Flaine, France
Set within the Grand Massif area, Flaine is known for having great ski slopes for both beginners and experts.
There are even scenic runs, such as Les Cascades, which is accessible from Geneva.
Crystal Ski also offers Crystal Childcare, so if adults want to head off-piste themselves they can do with their kids in good care.
Families can also head off ice skating, bowling or venture off on a dog sled ride, according to Crystal Ski.
The resort features a number of high-quality apartments, many of which have their own swimming pools.
The accommodation is then only a couple of minutes from the slopes.
A seven-night trip from January 10, including flights, to Flaine costs from £494pp.
Passo Tonale, Italy
If you prefer the Italian Alps, then head to Passo Tonale, which has a “relaxed atmosphere and just one main road – so you’ll quickly find your way around the accommodation, restaurants and shops,” according to Crystal Ski.
The resort also has Crystal Childcare too.
The resort itself is supposed to be one of the best places for children to learn how to ski as it has a great ski school, as well as 62 miles of quiet slopes, perfect for practicing on.
For little ones, just about getting to grips with their skis, there are more gentle runs and there is even an inflatable slide and tubing.
This super family friendly spot goes one step further on Wednesdays though – as families can get together for races, face painting and even a kids’ torchlit session.
The area is also home to a number of significant World War I sites where battles occurred.
A seven-night trip from January 10, including flights, to Passo Tonale costs from £540pp.
Passo Tonale, Italy, has 62 miles of quiet slopesCredit: Getty
Hundfjället, Sweden
Hundfjället is a popular ski destination found in the Salen mountain range.
In fact, it is one of the shortest transfers to any ski resort at 15-20 minutes according to Crystal Ski.
Slopes at the resort feature all skill levels, but if you are an expert you might want to try the black slope named ‘The Wall’, which is Sweden‘s second steepest ski run.
Families can also head to Trollskogen (Trolls Forest), which is a tree-lined run with singing trolls along the way.
There are eight children’s ski areas, including a dedicated children’s learning area that features fun obstacles.
Other fun activities for kids include snow tubes, ice karts and mini snowmobiles.
And there is resort-run childcare and babysitting too.
For when families aren’t on the snow, they can head to the Experium Leisure Centre where they will find an adventure pool and spa.
A seven-night trip from January 18, including flights, to Hundfjället costs from £814pp.
Hundfjället, Sweden, has snow tubes and ice kartsCredit: Alamy
La Plagne, France
Back over in France is La Plagne, which features 11 purpose-built ski resorts with traditional villages.
According to Crystal Ski, it is one of the top resorts in France and has a great ski school.
And there is even an ice grotto with sculptures, ice skating and an igloo village.
A seven-night trip from January 25, including flights, to La Plagne costs from £430pp.
La Plagne, France, features 11 purpose-built ski resortsCredit: Alamy
Ruka, Finland
Ruka in Finland is like a real winter wonderland, according to Crystal Ski.
Think traditional log cabins, snowy scenery and ‘marshmallow trees’ (pine trees but covered in snow so they look like giant marshmallows).
Lots of accommodation in the area can be found right by the slopes and the resort is only 25 minutes from the airport.
Ruka even has the biggest beginner area in Finland, which means this spot is great for perhaps more cautious kids.
There is a Rosa & Rudolf Family Park too, which has “magic carpets and fun obstacles”, says Crystal Ski.
Other activities that can be found at Ruka include dog sledding, reindeer safaris and snowmobiling.
A seven-night trip from January 18, including flights, to Ruka costs from £369pp.
Ruka, Finland, has the biggest beginner area in FinlandCredit: Getty
Obergurgl, Austria
Obergurgl is a high-altitude Alpine Village found in Austria, that is home to a hidden gem ski resort.
In fact, it is the highest village in Austria which means there is usually a good snow covering.
At the resort you will find a great ski school and quiet slopes ideal for perfecting your skills without worrying about others whizzing by.
Once more confident, skiers and snowboarders can head on the Audi Quattro fun slope.
When off the slopes, the village itself is a vibrant destination at spots such as Josl Keller, where there is often late night dancing.
Surrounding the slopes are also a number of great hotels, many of which also have good family facilities such as playrooms.
A seven-night trip from January 10, including flights, to Obergurgl costs from £618pp.
Obergurgl, Austria, is the highest village in AustriaCredit: Getty – Contributor
Zell am See, Austria
Also in Austria is Zell am See, a town located on the edge of Lake Zell.
The ski area is home to one of the biggest ski schools in Austria, says Crystal Ski and a number of fun runs including Schmidolin’s Dragon Park.
For something even more thrilling, there is also an alpine rollercoaster which is a 0.8-mile-long toboggan track.
Or if you fancy something calmer, head off on a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the town.
In the town there is a variety of places to stay, including half-board hotels.
And in the wider area you could also make a trip to Sigmund Thun Gorge, which is a natural gorge carved by the Kapruner Ache river.
There are a number of wooden walkways and bridges which visitors can explore.
A seven-night break from January 24 with return flights to Zell am See costs from £362pp.
Zell am See, Austria, is located on the edge of Lake Zell and has a number of fun runsCredit: Alamy
Soldeu, Andorra
Finally, over in the small landlocked country of Andorra, you will find Soldeu, which is the best resort in Andorra for families, according to Crystal Ski.
The resort is part of the 130 mile Grandvalira area and there is a gondola that takes visitors up to the ski school and nursery slopes.
The green and blue slopes are then beautifully lined with trees.
There is also El Tarter which features a number of obstacles.
In the village itself, there are a number of hotels that have swimming pools and kid’s clubs.
And thanks to the small size of the village, you won’t have to walk far before you’re on the gondola.
There’s a number of spots to grab a bite to eat too in the warmth, such as Restaurant la Cort de Popaire, which has a cosy wood and stone interior.
A beginner-only week trip from March 1 to 8 in Soldeu costs from £1095pp and includes return flights, transfers, seven nights’ accommodation, breakfast and evening meals, ski or snowboard lessons, lift pass and equipment hire.
WE’VE had a corker of a year, travelling far and wide to hunt the best bargain getaways, newest spine-tingling attractions and hottest resorts to share with you, our wonderful readers.
From a behind-the-scenes look at the first new theme park to open in Orlando in 25 years, to discovering secret speakeasys on board the world’s largest cruise ship, here are The Sun Travel’s top trips from 2025.
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Here are The Sun Travel’s top trips from 2025, pictured Universal Resort OrlandoCredit: Supplied
EPIC UNIVERSE, FLORIDA
Lisa Minot, Head Of Travel
Epic Universe surpassed Lisa’s high expectationsCredit: supplied
UNIVERSAL’S hugely anticipated third theme park opened this year and I was among the very first to get a sneak peek.
I can definitely say the reality surpassed my high expectations. The attention to detail, sheer scale and truly immersive nature of the five new “worlds” that make up the £7billion park are astonishing.
From the breathtaking recreation of 1920s Paris in the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, to the technicolour dreamscape of Super Nintendo World, there is something for every age and interest.
Families with younger kids will love How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, a whimsical recreation of the movie franchise’s Viking village, complete with colourful longboats.
And thrill-seekers will enjoy Dark Universe with its Monsters Unchained and Curse Of The Werewolf attractions as well as the Stardust Racers dual-launch coaster in Celestial Park.
In 2025, visitors were restricted to one-day tickets to the new park, to manage capacity and give as many people the chance to visit as possible.
But from next year, Epic will be included on 14-day multi-park tickets, meaning you can pop in and out as many times as you like.
BAHAMAS CRUISE
Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
For Sophie, 2025 has been her year of cruisingCredit: Supplied
IT has been my year for cruising, from sampling a knock-out cheese souffle on board Oceania’s new Allura to sipping frozen margaritas on the glossy sun deck of Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess.
However, none of these ships were as mindboggling as Star Of The Seas. Royal Caribbean’s newest colourful giant shares its title of “largest cruise ship in the world” with sister ship, Icon Of The Seas.
You need a whole week at sea to sample all the non-stop activities and to sink a beer or cocktail in every one of the 19 or so bars (save room for a punchy boulevardier from the coffee-themed Rye & Bean).
Much of what is on board has already been seen on Icon, including the thrill ride Crown’s Edge that sends passengers free-falling towards the ocean, their plummets saved by a harness as they dangle from the edge of the 16th deck.
What’s unique to Star, though, is the Lincoln Park Supper Club, an all-singing immersive dining experience that takes passengers back to the jazz boom of Chicago in the roaring Twenties.
It is costly for speciality dining but, my word, you’ll be well fed and watered. If you like martinis, you won’t regret booking this.
OSEA ISLAND, ESSEX
Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Osea is a private island linked to the mainland by a causewayCredit: Getty
PICTURE a private island with two outdoor pools, white clapboard houses and a huge sandy beach and you are more likely to be imagining somewhere exotic in the Caribbean than Essex.
But Osea is a private island linked to the mainland by a causeway you can only drive over for a few hours every day – which means you are marooned for most of the day and night.
Osea has several houses available to rent, from one-bedroom studios to 12-bedroom mansions, the largest featuring a recording studio that has been used by everyone from Stormzy to Rihanna.
It also has a tiny pub, a yoga studio, a bar and a huge event space where people can hold parties for up to 200 people.
I was there for a friend’s 50th and we spent a glorious 48 hours swimming in the sea, going on walks, eating, drinking and generally considering ourselves incredibly lucky to be in such a magical place.
You can only go to Osea if you are booked to stay in one of the properties but they are available to the public, with rooms from £60pp a night.
INDIA
Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Kara got to tick off top bucket list attractions thanks to Intrepid’s Women ExpeditionsCredit: Supplied
INDIA has long been on my wish list to travel to, but as a young woman, I was always extremely wary.
However, Intrepid’s Women Expeditions meant I could tick off all of the top bucket list attractions while staying safe with a local female guide.
So I could visit the famous pink palace of Jaipur, and the stunning Taj Mahal in Agra.
But it also meant we got to experience this vast country like a local, meeting female rickshaw drivers and staying at the rustic Chandelao Garh – a 17th century former fort which is now a hotel with 20 rooms.
And, with Virgin Atlantic launching more flights to India in the New Year, it’ll be easier to get there than ever before.
SARDINIA
Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
Sardinia boasts warming breezes and the smell of olive trees in the airCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
ITALY is full of stunning, historic cities and hidden gems, but one island destination, thought to be a top spot to visit in 2026, offers a serene escape in the Mediterranean Ocean.
Sardinia is closer to Africa than mainland Italy, so boasts warming breezes and the smell of olive trees in the air.
If I am heading to a hot country, I prefer to be somewhere where everything I could want is at my fingertips – and Hilton’s Conrad Chia Laguna Resort achieves this.
Many of its stylish, sprawling rooms have small private gardens looking out to Chia Beach, surrounded by cream-coloured limestone.
The Conrad also has relaxing pools ideal for a refreshing dip before stretching out on one of the sun loungers.
For a touch of indulgence, the spa has a circuit of saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms ideal for a rejuvenation session.
The plush Hilton resort is just an hour from Cagliari – the island’s vibrant capital – which boasts a rich history and is the ideal spot for a day trip.
Return flights with British Airways in January start from a bargain £35 per person.
FINLAND
Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
Alice headed to Finland for a winter adventureCredit: Supplied
I’VE always been a fan of a hot holiday and since I live in the UK, who can really blame me?
But after heading to Finland for a winter adventure, I now think chilly getaways could be the way forward.
After a variety of activities from hiking through a snowy blueberry farm in outer Jyväskylä to taking a dip in a frozen lake in the city of Tampere – after a hot sauna, of course – I came to appreciate and love the cold.
One of the most special nights was at Revontuli Lakeland Village, in Hankasalmi, Jyväskylä Region, where I was able to get all cosy and enjoy a beautiful snow-scape from the comfort of a pretty igloo.
WHAT could be better than spending the day sightseeing in a new city, only to come home to your comfy bed that very same evening?
Extreme day-tripping blew up as a trend in 2025, and if you’ve never given it a go – now’s the time.
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Places like Milan and Paris have become popular 24 hour day tripsCredit: AlamyYou can sometimes skip the flight and take the Eurostar trainCredit: Getty
Day trips abroad from the UK have never been more doable, with more and more European routes becoming available with budget airlines.
And with flights starting from £14.99 one-way, it can cost less to hop over to another country for the day than it can to go out for dinner.
Here’s our Sun Travel team’s top picks for 24-hour day trips, and the best things to see and do there to make the most of your time.
Paris
If there’s ever an opportunity to travel by Eurostar, I’ll take it.
That’s partly why Paris is one of my favourite day trips.
If you live within an hour’s train ride of London, the Eurostar is certainly the most convenient way of travel.
Plus, there’s something rather glamorous about starting your day sipping tea in the calm of a train carriage before arriving into the beating heart of Paris just 2.5 hours later.
I never tire of the bucket-list landmarks, but there’s one I’d recommend above the others – and that’s the Basilica du Sacré-Cœur, perched on the city’s highest hill, in Montmartre .
If you’re tight for cash, don’t worry about going inside. It’s worth venturing here just for the free view, which I’d argue beats the one from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
You can catch a funicular to the hill’s peak, or challenge yourself to take the stairs.
Just avoid the main set and look for the ones on the far left, to avoid the crowds and street sellers trying to flog overpriced souvenirs.
Once you’ve taken a snap, the rest of this typically French district is well worth exploring.
Dart down one of the many narrow alleyways. The further you wander from the church, the more local it gets – think proper bistros, and cafes selling good, strong coffee.
Just two hours from the UK and one that nearly always has the cheap £14.99 Ryanair flights, Milan is an easy one to do for the day.
However, remember that Ryanair flies to Milan Malepenisa, not Milane Linate (which takes around 50 minutes to the city centre rather than 10 minutes.).
Instead, hop on the 6:45am easyJet flight from London Gatwick that gets you in at around 9:45am, just in time for brunch.
Get a pastry to go from Marchesi 1824, one of the city’s oldest bakeries for a classic breakfast of a cappuccino and croissant.
Take it with you before a shopping spree at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the historic shopping centre now home to beautiful designer boutiques.
Navigli canal in Milan is the perfect place for an aperitivoCredit: GettyConstruction of Milan Cathedral began in the 14th centuryCredit: Getty
While Milan is famous for its saffron risotto, a stop at a pizza bar is a must.
I recommend Pizza AM where you even get free mini starters and prosecco.
Squeeze in a quick visit of the famous Duomo di Milano as well as the Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to the famous Last Supper artwork, and it will be time to head back to the airport.
Although if you have time, you could always squeeze in a quick TikTok-famous Negroni Sbagliato at Bar Basso.
One of the latest flights you can get back is with ITA Airways, so you can leave at 9pm and be back in the UK just before 10pm.
My recent trip to the Danish capital city of Copenhagen was a dream with such short flights and a vibrant city – it got me thinking, you coulddefinitely head there and back in a day if you wanted to.
Ryanair offers morning flights leaving the UK at 7.15am on Saturday mornings from London Stansted meaning you get into the city at 10.10am.
From the airport to the city is a short drive, so jump into a taxi and head straight to the city.
Head to Strøget for a bite to eat at Holms Bakery, and then gander around the shops.
From there you’ll be able to see the pretty canals and the huge palaces, or head to Tivoli Gardens to have a go on some of the rides.
Nyhavn in Copenhagen, is famous for its colourful buildings on the waterfrontCredit: GettyFrequent flights to Copenhagen make it easy to get there and back on the same dayCredit: Getty
You can’t leave without seeing Nyhavn. It’s the district famous for having huge colourful buildings – and it’s on the back of most Copenhagen postcards.
The houses sit right on the waterfront where there are plenty of bars which is the perfect spot to stop for a cocktail before heading back to the airport.
You can catch a flight with Ryanair at 8.40pm and land back in the UK at 9.35pm.
Hopping over to Dublin for a day has got to be as easy as it gets when it comes to booking a cheeky 24-hour day trip.
Flights are super cheap and frequent with Ryanair, as little as £15 one-way from Stansted or £16 from Manchester.
The 1hr25 minute flight from London goes so fast that cabin crew barely have time to push the trolley down the aisle before you’ve landed.
Once you’re there and ready to begin sightseeing, the city is bursting with things to see and do – a lot of which are free.
Stroll through Trinity College to admire its historic campus, which is also home to the Book of Kells – the famous 9th century manuscript.
If you’ve never done Temple Bar, you’ve got to make a pit stop to grab a pint in the iconic Dublin pub (just one though – drinks are much cheaper if you walk a few blocks away!)
Visitors can walk through the grounds of Trinity CollegeCredit: AlamyThe famous Grafton Street is usually busy with shoppers and buskersCredit: Getty
And to get away from the touristy spots, hop on a DART train to Dublin’s seaside spots, like Howth or Sandycove, for beautiful rugged coastlines with breath-taking walks and popular swimming spots.
But my absolute favourite thing to do in Dublin is grab a cheap bag of oats from Dunnes, and head to Stephen’s Green to feed the friendly swans and ducks that roam the winding river.
And if you’re on the first flight out and last one back of the day – there’s no reason why you couldn’t tick all of these off in one go!
I first travelled to Wimereux, a seaside town 30 minutes drive from Calais on the Opal Coast when I was 20 years old with my mum.
She travels on the Channel Tunnel to France every year to stock up on her favourite items from French supermarkets, then heads over to Wimereux for some beach time and a delicious dinner.
Two decades on, it is still one of my favourite places to visit in France.
The promenade along the seafront is quaint and distinctly French – we sun ourselves and have a glass of wine before hopping back in the car home.
Wimereux in France is worth visiting in warmer months for its pretty promenadeCredit: Alamy
Tirana
The capital of Albania, Tirana, is a destination to watch.
With super cheap flights and everything being affordable once you get there, it is a great option for an extreme day trip.
It takes just under three hours to get there, so I opted to get an early morning flight to maximise my day in the city.
Once you arrive at the airport, there are coaches outside that cost a couple of quid and take you direct to the city, which is about half an hour away.
After hopping off of the coach, you will be in the middle of the city and all the top things to see and do are within walking distance.
In Skanderbeg Square, the main plaza of the city, you are able to see some fascinating architecture.
Tirana has a real mix of buildings, including mosques, Soviet buildings and traditional villas.
The Etehem Bey Mosque sits on the outskirts of Skanderbeg SquareCredit: GettySkanderbeg Square in Tirana is full of vibrant colour and historic artworkCredit: Alamy
Lift the spirits and venture into nature by planning a unique late winter or spring getaway for the family – uncover the delights the stunning UK countryside has to offer from the Lake District to the Jurassic Coast
A swim with a Lake District view
At around this time of year, a relaxing hotel stay with the family could be just the thing to give us a lift amid the winter gloom. Or maybe your thoughts have already turned to spring, when the family will be ready for a break.
There’s nothing better to blow away the cobwebs of the cooler months than getting out into nature and letting the kids run or swim free while the adults in the family can enjoy a relaxing spa or indulge in some fine-dining cuisine.
As the new Good Hotel Guide goes live online, we asked their team to suggest five great family-friendly hotels. There’s something to delight all ages with stays in star-gazing treehouses, sea views of a beach where you can go dolphin-spotting, and even a hotel with a lakeside ice rink. Here are their top picks.
Toddlers up to age three stay for free in their parents’ room at this resort on the 500-acre Farncombe Estate in Cotswold countryside above photogenic Broadway. Centred on a Scandi-style lodge, with accommodation scattered over the hillside, it comprises rooms and suites in a former coach house, stables and other buildings, as well as adults-only shepherds’ huts and three ‘treehouses’ with bunks for kids aged up to 12.
Tiny tots will like the outdoor play area, but this is more a destination to appeal to adventurous older children, with paid-for activities for those aged 12 and upwards, including archery and axe-throwing. Falconry is open to all from age four; wine tastings are for adults only, and duck herding is for large groups.
The rooms are country chic, with a soothing pale palette, all with an espresso machine, smart TV, Temple Spa toiletries. Some have a private terrace with views over the Vale of Evesham, and a few interconnect. A bar/lounge menu provides a casual dining option, with burgers, hot dogs, salads and light bites. For more sophisticated dining, Hook by Martin Burge has a fairly wide-ranging menu, strong on seafood, with such options as haddock schnitzel with smoked anchovies, sauce gribiche and seaweed fries alongside steak bèarnaise with roasties. A children’s menu, vegan dishes and Sunday roast beef should keep everyone happy.
And if raptors, axes and bows, and arrows aren’t your thing, you can borrow maps from the boot room and explore, or, when the sun shines, bag a deckchair beside a small lake.
B&B doubles from £220, family suites from £295, rooms with terrace from £275, extra bed for child 3-16 years £60.
Close to and a world away from Salcombe, lapped by gently rolling National Trust countryside, wildflower bejewelled and ablaze with gorse in summer, this low-built hotel is the perfect child-friendly, dog-friendly bolthole for an outdoorsy break. Formerly the 10-bedroom Sea View Guest House, unofficial officers’ mess for Bolt Head Airfield, and once famed for its meringue afternoon teas, it has been owned, run and cherished by the Makepeace family since 1978.
The 22 smart-contemporary rooms and suites – all but one at ground level – have glass doors to a patio and were designed to optimise the stunning views. The sheltered beach is one of the loveliest in South Hams, perfect for paddling, sandcastle-building, crabbing, dolphin-spotting. Guests have use of the spa and indoor saltwater swimming pool, a lounge with books and board games.
Activities locally include sea safaris and seal-watching trips. You can order a picnic (crab sandwiches!) and walk the Southwest Coast Path, return for a cream tea (no meringues now), dine in the glass-walled, sea-facing restaurant on such dishes as Fowey mussels with sea herbs and mussel velouté, Dexter beer burger, fish and chips, cauliflower steak with sauternes raisins, cauliflower purée, pickled shallots and romesco sauce. There is a short kids’ menu, and the night’s desserts might include the Pavlova that Audrey Hepburn declared ‘divine’ when she visited in 1987. Mobile coverage here is limited, so it’s a detox for screen-addicted teens – no Facetime, just pure quality time.
Family rooms from £211.50 (continental breakfast; cooked breakfast £15).
Kids stay free when sharing with parents at this Jacobean manor house in 14-acre grounds amid the Wiltshire countryside, part of the small Luxury Family Hotels collection. Everything is geared to making families feel welcome and relaxed, with the Ofsted-registered Four Bears Den, where children aged eight and under enjoy arts and crafts, toys, dressing up and outdoor adventures.
There is a spa, indoor pool and, in summer, a heated outdoor pool, a library with pool table, air hockey and table football, the Green Fingers gardening club in the walled garden with its resident ducks and hens. Organised activities include Cooking with Chef, jewellery-making and tropical-animal discovery sessions.
Book a Baby’s First Break package and they’ll provide a Bugaboo cot and giraffe highchair and a baby monitor. With all the family bases covered, the hotel is not short on the promised luxury, with comfy lounges, beautifully presented bedrooms, indulgent spa treatments and adults-only swim times.
You can order a cream tea in the garden, dine informally in the Orangery, or in either of two dining rooms, one dog friendly, from a menu of steaks, burger, fish and chips, maybe lentil dahl, garden pumpkin, chickpea, smoked onion and coriander, or sea trout with crushed potato and fennel. Literary buffs should check out also, sister properties Fowey Hall, Cornwall, believed to have been Kenneth Graham’s model for Toad Hall, and Moonfleet Manor, Dorset, which inspired John Meade Faulkner’s 1898 novel of shipwrecks and smuggling, Moonfleet.
B&B family rooms for around £246.
‘A very strange stranger it must be who does not see the charms in the immediate environs of Lyme,’ wrote Jane Austen in Persuasion. Like Austen, Kathryn Haskins spent happy family holidays in this historic resort on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. In fact, her parents were so smitten with its charms that, in 1982, they bought Lyme’s landmark hotel. A Georgian house built for the Earl and Countess of Poulett, it is now owned by Kathryn, who brings to it her experience of working in hotels around the world, and who can personally vouch for its appeal to a child.
The ambience is informal, the interiors achieving a kind of unshowy chic without upstaging the glorious sea views. Some larger bedrooms can sleep four, or families might take one of two self-catering apartments, each big enough for six. Apartment guests have access to all hotel facilities, and menu items can be delivered by room service.
In the light-filled Ammonite Restaurant, typical dishes include pan-fried halibut, fried polenta, cauliflower puree, cranberry gel; ribeye steak and chips; gnocchi. ‘It’s like staying in a comfy country-house hotel,’ says Guide readers, all of whom have particularly warm words for the staff. And, since family is not just about children, a word of praise for the ‘personal touches’ that really made the stay for one reader and her parents on their Golden Wedding anniversary. Ask for a packed lunch and spend the day fossil hunting, walking the coastal paths, swimming, sailing, windsurfing, and return with an appetite for afternoon tea.
B&B large doubles from £330, cots £8, extra bed for a child £44.
There is a real Swallows and Amazons vibe at this dog-friendly new lifestyle resort, the frumpy old Rampsbeck Hotel reinvented as a cool destination. As well as fabulously stylish bedrooms and suites, some for families, in the original Georgian house and modern wings, there is a two-bedroom treehouse with decking and outdoor bath, and shepherds’ huts, some with an extra bunk room, all with a log burner and star-gazing roof.
This is a place that revels in the landscape and in its lakeside situation, where days might be spent wild swimming, paddleboarding, hiking and fell walking. Right now, too, because it’s winter, there’s even a lakeshore ice rink. Other facilities include a 20metre indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, cardio and treatment rooms. The Ofsted-registered Kids’ Zone encourages learning through play: staff take the youngsters outside as much as possible to follow animal footprints, build campfire and go on nature hunts with ‘bingo’ sheets for outdoor I-Spy.
In the fine-dining Rampsbeck Restaurant, menus feature such locally sourced dishes as roast Cartmel Valley venison haunch, caramelised celeriac puree, savoy cabbage, Anna potato, pickled walnut ketchup, venison samosa, juniper sauce (from the children’s menu maybe garden patch soup, mac and cheese, chocolate brownie). There is more casual dining in the Living Space (steak and fries, rice bowls, wraps and burgers), woodfired pizzas in the Glasshouse by the vegetable garden, and hearty pub grub at sister venture The Brackenrigg.
B&B doubles, Stay and Skate from £240, family room from around £340, extra bed for age 3-plus 25% of double room price.
UN experts criticise US blockade for endangering human rights and call for an investigation into alleged violations.
Published On 24 Dec 202524 Dec 2025
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Four United Nations human rights experts have condemned the partial naval blockade of Venezuela by the United States, finding it an illegal armed aggression and calling on the US Congress to intervene.
“There is no right to enforce unilateral sanctions through an armed blockade,” the UN experts said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
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The US has deployed a major military force in the Caribbean and intercepted oil tankers as part of a naval blockade against Venezuelan vessels it considers to be under sanctions.
A blockade is a prohibited use of military force against another country under the UN Charter, they added.
“It is such a serious use of force that it is also expressly recognised as illegal armed aggression under the General Assembly’s 1974 Definition of Aggression,” the experts said. “The illegal use of force, and threats to use further force at sea and on land, gravely endanger the human right to life and other rights in Venezuela and the region.”
US President Donald Trump accuses Venezuela of using oil, the South American country’s main resource, to finance “narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murders and kidnappings”.
Caracas denies any involvement in drug trafficking. It says Washington is seeking to overthrow its president, Nicolas Maduro, to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world.
Since September, US forces have launched dozens of air strikes on boats that Washington alleges were transporting drugs. It has yet to provide evidence for those accusations. More than 100 people have been killed.
‘US Congress should intervene’
“These killings amount to violations of the right to life. They must be investigated and those responsible held accountable,” the experts said.
“Meanwhile, the US Congress should intervene to prevent further attacks and lift the blockade,” they added.
They called on countries to take measures to stop the blockade and illegal killings and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The four who signed the joint statement are: Ben Saul, special rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering “terrorism”; George Katrougalos, an expert on promoting a democratic and equitable international order; development expert Surya Deva; and Gina Romero, special rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
UN-backed food security experts have found improvements in nutrition and food supplies in Gaza since the ceasefire but say 100,000 people were still experiencing “catastrophic conditions” last month.
In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) found that half a million people – about a quarter of Gaza’s population – were living in areas suffering from famine.
Since a fragile ceasefire came into force in October, the UN and other humanitarian agencies have been able to increase food getting into Gaza.
Israel’s foreign ministry said the report was “deliberately distorted” and “doesn’t reflect the reality in the Gaza Strip”.
The latest IPC analysis suggests that a month ago, half a million Gazans were still facing emergency conditions and more than 100,000 were still under the highest level of food insecurity – IPC Phase 5 – experiencing “catastrophic conditions”.
It projects that number will continue to decrease but stressed the situation remains “highly fragile”.
IPC Phase 5 signifies the most extreme level of food insecurity , labelled “Famine” for an area or “Catastrophe” when referring to households. The report said no areas in Gaza were now classified as “in Famine”.
Israel rejected the original findings of famine by the IPC – which monitors and classifies global hunger crises – and has continued to criticise its methodology.
Cogat, the Israeli military body which controls Gaza’s crossings, said the number of trucks with food aid entering each week went beyond what the UN had determined it needed.
“The report relies on severe gaps in data collection and on sources that do not reflect the full scope of humanitarian assistance,” the body said in a statement.
The IPC said acute malnutrition was at critical levels in Gaza City and serious in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.
In the coming months the situation is expected to remain severe but the number of people facing the most severe conditions is predicted to fall to 1,900 by April, according to the report.
But it added that if there were renewed hostilities the entire Strip would be at risk of famine.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month that the second phase of the US-brokered peace plan – which would see Israel withdraw troops further from Gaza and Hamas disarm – was close but key issues still needed to be resolved.
The IPC said key drivers of food insecurity included restricted humanitarian access, displacement of more than 730,000 people and the destruction of livelihoods – including more than 96% of crop land in Gaza being destroyed or inaccessible.
Israel imposed a total blockade on aid deliveries to Gaza at the start of March this year, which was eased in May, saying it wanted to put pressure on the armed group Hamas to release hostages remaining in Gaza at the time.
Ahead of this IPC report Cogat said the body had not engaged with the US or Israel and its methodology, “reinforcing a false narrative, driven in part by Hamas-sourced claims, while ignoring the actual humanitarian conditions on the ground”.
It also denied Israel was preventing winter and medical supplies from entering the territory and that there was a shortage of drinking water.
Unwra, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said while the report stated Gaza was no longer in famine, the situation remained “critical”.
“Overall living conditions in the Gaza Strip are still catastrophic, made worse by the winter weather,” it said in a statement, adding there must be “sustained, expanded, and consistent humanitarian and commercial access”.
WHEN it comes to A Place in the Sun most house hunters are on the lookout for a bargain along the Spanish coast.
But actually, there are plenty of affordable spots to be found outside of Europe – from beautiful Caribbean islands to cities less than an hour to huge theme parks.
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A Place in the Sun experts reveal their best destinations to buy property outside of EuropeCredit: A Place in the SunJean Johansson suggests looking further afield to the CaribbeanCredit: A Place in the Sun
Jean told us: “If you can stretch to the Caribbean, St Lucia has blown me away – and it’s quite cheap compared to Europe to eat out.
“If you want a paradise lifestyle, you can fly out this time of year and get beautiful weather. It’s so laidback too and everyone slows right down.
“The last time I was there for A Place in the Sun, one couple had a budget of £200,000 and they bought an amazing two-bedroom apartment on a little island that you have to get to via a water taxi – it was just absolutely idyllic.
“If you’re willing to have that Caribbean way of life and something a bit different, your money can go far.”
Another destination that is becoming more popular with Brits as being an affordable holiday spot is Thailand.
Craig said: “I’ve not done any shows in Thailand yet – I think the show may have gone there a long time ago, but that’s somewhere else I think has great value property.
“It might be far, around 14 hours on a plane, but in terms of investment, and perhaps if you’re retiring and can stay there for months at a time, it’s a great option.”
Property prices can vary in Thailand depending on the destination with Chiang Mai being more affordable than the beachside property in Phuket.
Once you get there, the likes of food are so much cheaper – you can pick up a meal from as cheap as 150baht (£3.55).
St. Lucia still has some affordable property – and is a great spot for winter sunCredit: Alamy
But out of all destinations, there was one that every presenter mentioned as being one of the best places to invest – and for a good price next year.
Laura told us: “Florida is a place offering exciting opportunities and it’s always been a place we’ve visited on A Place in the Sun.
“I filmed there just before Christmas and it’s quite interesting. In Florida there are lots of properties that 20 years ago were prime luxury houses along the 192 route which is within 30 minutes to the Disney Parks.
“The location is still amazing, but the houses are a bit tired, so the rental opportunities are incredible. In terms of being able to make properties over and add value to them, I think that’s an exciting market.”
Brits should be looking at property in Florida in cities like Fort LauderdaleCredit: Alamy
Jean added that she did some Florida shows last year where she headed to Fort Lauderdale.
“I think Florida’s always been popular and it’s nice for us to get away from Orlando and away from the Disney parks.
“Fort Lauderdale is a dream with the classic American lifestyle up there – locals start their day with a coffee on the beautiful promenades and there’s a lovely community feel.”
According to Palm Paradise Realty Group, some of the most affordable areas in Fort Lauderdale include Lake Aire Palm View and Flagler Village where the average property price is $343,000 (£255,543).
New episodes of A Place in the Sun will return from Sunday 21 December, and you can catch up on previous episodes on Channel4.com.
A Place in the Sun experts reveal coastline worth buying on NOW where you can ‘still get bargains’ – and flights are £15…
When we asked Laura Hamilton, Craig Rowe and Jean Johansson where exactly Brits looking for a holiday home should buy right now in Europe – they all had the same answer.
Laura Hamilton, who has been working on the show since 2012, explained: “There are still places in Spain which are great places to invest, especially around Costa Tropical.
“The area has increased in value and is still going up. It’s the opposite side of Málaga to Marbella and Puerto Banús, and it’s much cheaper.
“If you go out to a bar or a restaurant, the prices will be significantly cheaper but still great quality.”
Laura revealed that the Costa Tropical has accessibility to both the mountains and the beach.
She added that it’s marketed so that “you can be on the slopes in the morning and beach in the afternoon”.
To get from the beaches to the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains takes just an hour and a half in the car.
Laura continued: “I love that part of Spain and the scenery around Granada is spectacular. If you love the beach, skiing and hiking then it’s a stunning part of Spain – but prices are on the rise.”
Also in southern Spain is the region that presenter Craig Rowe recommended and like Costa Tropical, the region sits between the coast and Sierra Nevada mountains.
Craig told us: “Costa Almería in Spain is really good, especially for anyone on a lower budget.”
Jean Johansson, who has been working on the show for seven years, the same question, she agreed with her colleagues.
Jean said: “It’s got to be Murcia and the south of Spain because you can still get bargains there.”
“When I started on the show seven years ago the area wasn’t as popular at all, but now people are really understanding the value for money.”
IF you’re off to Scotland on a £9.50 Holiday, here’s something to excite your taste buds.
Surrounded by sea and with rolling fertile lands, this beautiful country produces much of its own food, from seafood to hearty haggis.
Surrounded by sea and with rolling fertile lands, Scotland produces much of its own foodCredit: GettyFrom seafood to hearty haggis, and famous Scottish breakfasts from places like The Bandstand Bar & Restaurant in Nairn, travel experts have picked their fave spotsCredit: Trip Advisor
It’s also home to over 150 malt and grain distilleries, with countless whisky-tasting opportunities for those who like a tipple.
You can’t miss the opportunity to sample haggis, neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes), traditional fish and chips or Scottish porridge.
And you can’t go wrong by starting the day with a full Scottish breakfast, with The Bandstand Bar & Restaurant in Nairn highly rated for theirs.
Another local speciality is Cullen Sink, a warming, thick soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions, which you can sample at somewhere like Garden Cafe Pitlochry.
And that’s just the start. We’ve spoken to Scottish locals and holiday park staff to find out the best places to eat and drink – from sea-view restaurants to community-run cafes by the beach.
Here are some places to check out on your upcoming £9.50 Holiday…
Best cheap eats
Morvyn Cattanach, General Manager at Sandylands Holiday Park in Ayrshire recommends Doon the Beach, a community cafe just behind Stevenson Beach.
She said: “It’s a cabin that they’ve done out as a cafe – a wee hidden thing that people might not know about.
“It’s the perfect place to get a cup of tea after a walk on the beach. And it’s really budget friendly – we got two soups, two drinks and a bag of dog treats for £10.”
In the Highlands, Milk Bar cafe and The Auctioneers pub, both in Inverness, are highly rated for their good value food and drink.
Best dog-friendly cafe
If you have a pooch in tow, Morvyn Cattanach recommends heading to the coastal town of Irvine.
She said: “There’s a lovely cafe called GRO right next to the harbour where you can take your dog. It’s a great breakfast and brunch place – my favourite is avocados and eggs on toast (£9.80).”
The menu also features a “doggy section” with everything from sausages (£3) to “puppuccinos” (£2.50) for hounds.
The inn at the Moulin Hotel, which has a traditional brewery and cosy fireCredit: Trip Advisor
Best local pubs
Christopher Hill, Administration Manager at Tummel Valley Holiday Park in Perthshire, says Pitlochry is the place to find a variety of great pubs.
The Old Mill has a great setting, with a watermill outside and a nice beer garden.
The Auld Smiddy is a traditional pub with great food and a kids’ menu. There’s also the inn at the Moulin Hotel, which has a traditional brewery and cosy fire.”
Best for families
Adele Murray, a Scottish blogger originally from Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire, says: “One of my family’s favourite pubs is Ailean Chraggan – or “The Crags” as locals call it – in Aberfeldy.
“It’s great for families, with a beer garden and outdoor play area. The Scottish Mussels are delicious and come from the west coast (£9.50 as a starter, £18.95 as a main), but I’ve also eaten pigeon and duck here – the food is great.”
The children’s menu includes garlic ciabatta (£3.50), mac and cheese (£6.25) and more.
Meanwhile, The Tree House in Ayr is a good option for families, with a genuinely good children’s menu and a laid-back vibe.
They also offer activity packs to keep kids entertained, and regular offers like steak nights for less than £15.
Ailean Chraggan – or “The Crags” as locals call it – in AberfeldyCredit: Trip Advisor
Best place for whisky tasting
The Scottish Sun Travel Editor, Heather Lowrie recommends The Blair Athol Distillery in Pitlochry, the Highlands.
She said: “It’s one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland.”
One-hour tours cost from £19. Heather added: “Blair Castle, home to the Atholl family for over seven centuries with its spectacular grounds, is just seven miles away and worth a look.
“You can even go segwaying there with Segway Ecosse and take in Hercules Garden, Diana’s Grove and St Brides Kirk.”
Further north, Lossiemouth in Moray is another good option for sampling the country’s finest malts, with plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants in the town.
Heather said: “Whisky drinkers will love it as it’s in the famous Speyside whisky area, and close to a few of Scotland’s most famous distilleries including Glenfiddich, Macallan and Tamdhu.”
Best restaurant
Overlooking the Moray Firth, Sun Dancer is a modern bar and restaurant – the perfect place to watch the sunset beside a panoramic window.
Make the most of one of the offers, like “boozy brunch” Saturdays (£35pp for two courses and four cocktails, pre-booking essential).
Meanwhile, The Bistro in Ayr is a traditional Scottish restaurant that is highly rated for its dishes, which range from duck leg croquettes (£7.95) to hand-pressed burgers (£16) and butcher’s cut steak.
The Scottish Sun Travel Editor, Heather Lowrie recommends The Blair Athol Distillery in Pitlochry, the HighlandsCredit: Trip Advisor
