foreign

The advice is to check with your travel provider for the latest information

Families heading abroad on their summer holidays are urged to keep a close eye on travel updates. The Foreign Office has published fresh travel guidance for a popular sunny EU destination. The latest advice urges travellers to “check with your travel provider” for the latest information in light of a “national emergency”.

This comes as many flights were disrupted recently to the south of Italy, after eruptions from Mount Etna caused clouds of ash to be thrown into the air. The Foreign Office has since updated its guidance for Italy on Tuesday, August 11, with new information regarding ‘Volcanoes’ in the ‘Safety and security’ section. The latest guidance informs visitors: “There are several active volcanoes in southern Italy. National emergency planning is in place for the Phlegraean fields, an area that remains active experiencing regular tremors.”

People heading to the Mediterranean country are warned that “airspace can be affected during eruptions”. The Phlegraean fields (Campi Flegrei) is an area just west of Naples and so is close to Naples Airport.

‘Heightened activity’

The guidance includes a word of warning for another airport in the region. You may need to take action ahead of your trip: “If you are travelling to or from Catania, during a period of heightened activity, check with your travel provider or with Catania airport.”

The Government body also advises: “Read what to do in the event of a volcanic eruption and follow the instructions of the local authorities.” The guidance includes a link to more information on the Civil Protection Department website of the Italian Government.

This information reminds visitors that Italy has “the greatest concentration of active volcanoes in Europe” along with Iceland. The guidance sets out that there is a “varying degree of hazard” for these volcanoes.

‘Wrong information’

People trying to find the latest guidance in the media are warned that “wrong information” can be sent out in times of crisis. The guidance urges: “For this reason it is important to follow the civil protection authorities’ instructions transmitted by radio, TV, in the daily press, on Internet and by the various toll-free numbers that will be set up.

“During eruptions, it is also important not heed the forbidden to enter signs at the areas involved by the eruption. It is dangerous to approach the crater area even if there is no eruptive activity as sudden explosive phenomena or gas emissions are always possible.”

You can read the full travel guidance for Italy on the Foreign Office website.

Foreign policy rarely shifts as quickly as Venezuela’s has this year. And when it does, ideology is usually not the driver. Survival is—especially in autocratic systems. 

Since taking the interim presidency, Delcy Rodríguez has quietly reversed much of the confrontational diplomacy that defined the Maduro and Chávez era. As a consequence of the January 3 military intervention, she moved closer to Washington, re-established diplomatic ties with Chile and the Dominican Republic, and welcomed earthquake aid sent by El Salvador and Argentina. She also distanced Caracas from traditional partners such as Iran (currently in a war with the US and Cuba), withdrew Venezuela from the International Criminal Court in a step welcomed by the United States, and signaled a willingness to rebuild relations with Israel. Every one of these moves aligns with what Washington wants. 

These moves add up to more than tactical adjustments. They reveal an emerging foreign-policy strategy: authoritarian pragmatism. The goal is not political liberalization but reducing external pressure, attracting economic opportunities, and creating space for the government to consolidate power at home. 

To understand how dramatic this turn is, it helps to recall where Venezuela’s diplomacy was headed under Maduro. As a young diplomat in Caracas, I watched the country move toward an increasingly divisive and isolationist posture. I still remember sitting in Venezuela’s National Assembly in early 2015 during one of Maduro’s annual addresses. I had attended many official ceremonies before, but nothing prepared me for the bluntness of that night.

The best way to understand this shift is not as a simple turn toward the West, but as an adoption of the multi-alignment model perfected by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Most leaders soften their rhetoric when foreign diplomats are present. Maduro did the opposite. He divided the world into ideological camps: Western governments as imperialist powers, left-leaning Latin American states as part of a revolutionary bloc, Russia and Iran as fellow victims of Western pressure. A few ambassadors were singled out as representatives of friendly nations; the rest of us understood, without being told, that we belonged to a lower tier. At that time, Turkey wasn’t even on Maduro’s radar. 

That speech captured the essence of Maduro’s foreign-policy doctrine. For more than a decade, Chavismo locked Venezuela into a narrow circle of partners—China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba—while confrontation with the United States, Western governments, international institutions, and several regional neighbors left Caracas with fewer diplomatic options. Ideology became a cage.

Delcy’s U-turn

Delcy is now moving in a different direction. Her early signals suggest that she is less interested in defending Maduro’s ideological map than in redrawing it. Governments once treated as adversaries are again potential partners. Regional relationships that had gone cold are being restored. Caracas is talking to institutions it once dismissed as hostile.

The best way to understand this shift is not as a simple turn toward the West, but as an adoption of the multi-alignment model perfected by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkey. Turkey has shown how an authoritarian government can maintain strong economic ties with China, trade extensively with Russia, remain inside NATO, negotiate directly with Washington when useful, and still preserve tight political control at home. These relationships do not have to be mutually exclusive.

It’s important to note that the model sits differently on each leader. The two leaders reached power through opposite paths—Erdoğan through repeated elections and a genuine popular mandate, Delcy through a foreign military operation that removed her predecessor. One can afford slow, strategic bets. The other cannot. But the relevant comparison is not how they arrived in office; it is what foreign policy allows them to do once there.

A government can become more useful to Washington without becoming more democratic at home. That is precisely the space Delcy appears to be trying to create. 

Delcy does not need to sever the relations with old allies like China and Russia even though Washington is demanding to reduce the influence of Russia and China from Venezuela. China no longer takes 80 percent of Venezuela’s oil exports, but Chinese state firms still operate joint ventures in the country. The interim regime can concede the first while preserving the second, keeping protocol and trade channels open without returning to the dependency that once made Caracas useful to Beijing and Moscow. It’s true that Delcy is not in Erdoğan’s position, but she is reaching for his method—accumulating enough international goodwill that the questions about democracy at home lose their urgency. 

And there is a practical reason to move quickly. Reviving Venezuela’s oil industry is slow and complex. Rebuilding PDVSA, attracting foreign investment, issuing new licenses, and resolving sanctions and sovereign debt disputes will take years. Diplomatic decisions, by contrast, are fast and inexpensive for her regime.

Consider what these moves cost her. She hosted senior US cabinet officials in Caracas, rewrote the oil and mining laws to bring American companies back, and reopened the energy sector to foreign investment. She restored relations with neighbors that had broken with Caracas over the 2024 election—Chile, Peru, and the Dominican Republic all agreed to normalization roadmaps within weeks of one another. In April, the IMF resumed dealings with Venezuela after seven years, and the World Bank followed the same day. Welcoming Israeli rescue teams in June cost little more than a press conference.

The concessions to Washington were real, but they were concessions of access, not of power. What Delcy bought with them is a government that can once again be received, financed, and invested in—and that has yet to surrender any control over the courts, the security services, or the electoral machinery.

The Turkey comparison helps explain why. On July 7–8, Erdogan hosted NATO’s annual summit in Ankara, with President Trump in attendance—the first visit by a sitting US president to Turkey in more than a decade. The summit gave Erdogan an important diplomatic moment and strengthened his position internationally. Yet political pressure on Turkey’s opposition continued. Three weeks later, Turkish police detained 55 people, including an opposition mayor, in coordinated raids across nine provinces. By early August, 29 opposition mayors were under arrest, with dozens more suspended. Erdogan’s strongest rival, Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, has been in prison since March 2025, jailed the day he became his party’s presidential candidate. Western governments barely reacted to these autocratic practices.

As long as Delcy stays within the boundaries of the Donroe Doctrine, Washington has strong incentives to encourage this opening.

In today’s world, a government can become more useful to Washington without becoming more democratic at home. That is precisely the space Delcy appears to be trying to create. 

The emerging model is less about ideological loyalty than strategic flexibility. Caracas can cooperate with Washington on oil while maintaining ties with China. It can reopen relations with countries it previously alienated while preserving its partnerships with traditional allies. It can accept humanitarian assistance from governments once labeled enemies without altering its domestic political system.

In other words, Venezuela does not have to become less authoritarian to become more internationally flexible. That is the part of the interim regime’s strategy that deserves the most attention.

As long as Delcy stays within the boundaries of the Donroe Doctrine, Washington has strong incentives to encourage this opening. Those boundaries are narrower than they first appear, and they are not about democracy. Washington’s requirements are resource access, the exclusion of Russian, Chinese, and Iranian strategic presence from the hemisphere, and cooperation on migration and counter-narcotics. Everything else has proved negotiable. A more cooperative Venezuela creates opportunities for American businesses, investment, energy cooperation, and a more predictable bilateral relationship—something the United States could never achieve under Maduro’s siege mentality.

Venezuela may be changing how it deals with the world without changing how power is exercised at home. If this continues, the new administration’s foreign-policy shift could mark the beginning of a new phase of Chavismo—less ideological, more adaptable, and potentially more durable.

Caracas, August 10, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia held a meeting with Orthodox Rabbi Isaac Cohen on Sunday in which the latter formally requested that Caracas reestablish diplomatic ties with Israel.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Cohen delivered a letter addressed to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, arguing that normalizing relations with Tel Aviv is necessary to “tend to the needs of the Jewish community” in Venezuela.

“Venezuela has historically welcomed with open arms an important Jewish community, which has contributed to the development and well-being of our nation,” Plasencia wrote on social media.

Venezuela’s top diplomat thanked Cohen, on behalf of the Rodríguez administration and the Venezuelan people, for Israeli “assistance” following the June 24 double earthquake.

Cohen, a rabbi from the Venezuelan Jewish Association (AIV), was reportedly one of the intermediaries for the arrival of an Israeli diplomatic and military mission one week after the earthquake. The delegation included IDF officers and weapons contractors, while several Tel Aviv-aligned organizations likewise deployed on-the-ground teams.

Rodríguez held multiple meetings with the Israeli team, praising its members as “highly trained and professional” and thanking them for their work. IDF spokesman Roni Kaplan stated that the Israeli team had created a “dashboard” for Venezuelan authorities to evaluate damaged buildings, while Brigadier General Elad Edri was pictured presenting a “Project for Future Reconstruction” slideshow.

The Israeli mission has sparked growing protests, with Venezuelan popular movements reaffirming support for Palestine, condemning the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon, and burning Israeli flags.

Former President Hugo Chávez severed ties with Israel in 2009, fiercely denouncing the US ally for genocide and demonstrating unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. His stance was maintained by Maduro, who endorsed South Africa’s activation of the Genocide Convention against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024.

Following the January 3 US military strikes and kidnapping of Maduro, Rodríguez fast-tracked a diplomatic rapprochement with Washington alongside a broader radical shift in Caracas’ geopolitical alignment. 

Apart from re-engagement with Israel, the Venezuelan government is also reestablishing ties with far-right US allies in Latin America, including Chile, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, while distancing itself from historic partners in Havana and Tehran. During the recent US-Israel war against Iran, Caracas offered no backing for Tehran, instead voicing “solidarity” with US Gulf allies such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Edited by Lucas Koerner in Philadelphia, USA.

People told by officials that cars are also permitted go through crossings under specific rule – even when green crossing light is on

The Foreign Office has issued a warning for anyone visiting one of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations this summer. Italy is one of the most popular holiday hotspots – with 4.8 million visits in 2025 according to the Office of National Statistics.

However, a new alert has been put out by officials at the Foreign Office for anyone crossing the street. It said that people in the UK are used to being able to get across safely when lights are on red.

But it explained that in Italy this could be dangerous – as drivers are allowed to turn right when the green pedestrial crossing sign is on. And the Foreign Office said people can also be fined for crossing the road.

In today’s update it said: “Traffic can be busy, fast and chaotic, especially in the larger cities. Take care when crossing roads. Pedestrians should cross roads at a crossing. You can be fined for crossing the road if you are within 100 metres of a pedestrian crossing but do not use it. Drivers do not always stop, even though they are required to. The green pedestrian crossing signal also allows cars to turn right on to the crossing, so cross with caution.

“Exercise caution in poorly lit or unfamiliar areas, including in road underpasses. Emergency exits in vehicle tunnels are for emergency use only if you need to leave your vehicle and should not be used as pedestrian routes.”

In terms of crime, the Foreign Office advice is that compared to the UK petty street crime is higher. It said :”Crime levels are generally low but there are higher levels of petty crime, particularly bag-snatching and pickpocketing, in city centres and at major tourist attractions. “

Advice includes:

• keep sight of your belongings at all times
• beware of thieves using distraction techniques
• avoid carrying all your valuables together in handbags or pockets
• leave spare cash and valuables in a safe place such as a hotel safe

Cars can also be targeted: “Thefts from parked cars is common across the country. Avoid leaving luggage in your vehicle, even out of sight in the boot, for any length of time.

“Thieves may use a variety of methods to distract you or encourage you to stop your car, including asking for help or directions or pointing out a fictional fault with your car. “

For more information on safety from the Foreign Office about Italy click here.

Flights were suspended after the recent incident

Families heading to Europe for their summer holidays soon may want to read up on some updated travel advice. The Foreign Office has updated its guidance for a popular EU destination. You may want to speak with your travel provider ahead of your trip.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has changed its guidance for people traveling to Italy. The update relates to ‘Mount Etna Eruption – Flight Disruption’ and was added on Friday, August 7. Visitors to the Mediterranean country are informed: “Flights are currently affected by an ash cloud from Mount Etna. Check with your travel provider or Catania Airport before travelling.” The active volcano Mount Etna is on the east coast of Sicily, and is about 40km north of Catania Airport.

Plumes of ash cloud recently filled the air in the local area after an eruption of the volcano. Previous guidance on the Catania Airport website said that flights into Catania were suspended on Saturday, August 8, until 12 noon local time. Departures continued to operate as usual.

Airport update

A later update on the airport website posted on Saturday, August 8, reads: “Following the downgrade of the volcanic activity alert level from RED to ORANGE, the resumption of flight operations has been authorised with immediate effect.

“Airspace sectors are therefore back in operation and flight landing services are being gradually restored.” But the guidance also encourages customers to keep an eye out for updates.

The airport said: “However, passengers are kindly advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before heading to the airport.” You can read the full Foreign Office guidance on the Government website.

You can also check for any fresh updates on the Catania Airport website. Travellers heading through Bristol Airport also recently faced disruption after flights were suspended owing to a fault with the runway.

Many flights were left grounded after the problem emerged late on Friday, August 7. Flights resumed at around 8am on Saturday, August 8, once the issue was fixed.

Operations were halted late on Friday, August 7, with the airport initially expecting flights to resume at 6am on Saturday. The runway eventually reopened at around 8am.

Your rights if your flight is delayed

If your flight is delayed for whatever reason, after a certain period your airline must provide certain things to take care of you.

These include:

• Food and drink
• Communication i.e. access to phone calls and emails
• Accommodation if you are delayed overnight – and journeys between the airport and the hotel.

The company must provide support if your flight is delayed by:

• At least two hours for flights under 1,500km (such as Glasgow to Amsterdam)
• At least three hours for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (such as East Midlands to Marrakesh)
• At least four hours for flights over 3,500km (such as London to New York).

Australia will become the first nation outside the United States to field the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), following the announcement of a nearly A$736 million (approximately $480 million) procurement that will significantly expand the Royal Australian Air Force’s air combat capabilities. The acquisition comes as Australia, like the United States, is increasingly focused on maintaining an edge in beyond-visual-range air combat against China’s rapidly advancing airpower, including long-reaching air-to-air missiles.

The acquisition was announced by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles during Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin, the country’s premier multinational air combat exercise. The missiles will be acquired through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

“This announcement is the latest milestone in the delivery of long-range, high‑tech capabilities for our Defense Force,” Marles said. “The Albanese government continues to deliver critical capabilities that will allow the ADF to strike at a longer range, deter any adversary and protect our national interests. It is fitting to make this announcement at Exercise Pitch Black, which is an important demonstration of Australia’s commitment to the peace, stability and security of our region.”

According to the Australian government, the Lockheed Martin AIM-260 will first be integrated onto the RAAF’s F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet before being fielded on the F-35A and the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. Looking further ahead, the RAAF’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) is a likely candidate to be armed with JATM. It has already fired an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) from an external pylon, and the forthcoming Block 3 version of the drone will offer internal weapons carriage, too.

The integration of the AIM-260 on the EA-18G appears to be a new announcement; previously, the priority U.S. platforms to receive the missile were the F/A-18E/F and the F-22. However, considering the commonality between the Super Hornet and the Growler, integration should be straight-forward.

“JATM missiles are some of the most sophisticated air-to-air weapons in the world, and Australia will be the first country to operate them outside the United States,” added Australian Minister for Defense Industry, Pat Conroy. “This investment will deliver the most advanced capability for our ADF to detect and counter threats, and keep Australians safe. This is made possible thanks to the Albanese government’s record investment in Defense, including up to A$36 billion [approximately US$23.4 billion] over the next decade for Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance.”

The AIM-260 has been under development for years, but its capabilities remain highly classified. It is intended to succeed the AMRAAM, offering substantially greater range and improved performance against advanced threats while remaining compatible with existing fighter aircraft launchers and weapons bays restrictions. The AMRAAM is currently the primary beyond-visual-range air combat weapon currently used by the RAAF’s F/A-18Fs and F-35As.

As you can read about here, the first picture of the AIM-260 emerged in May of this year, involving an F/A-18F from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) carrying the weapon on the fuselage station outboard of its right engine intake. Flight testing of the JATM is known to have started years earlier, however.

Although official specifications have never been released, the AIM-260 is reportedly designed to hit targets out to at least 120 miles, if not substantially further. It was designed in response to China’s long-range PL-15 air-to-air missile, restoring the U.S. and allied advantage in beyond-visual-range aerial combat. Being developed by the U.S. Navy in cooperation with the Air Force, the missile is expected to combine a compact form factor similar to the AIM-120 with significantly greater engagement range, allowing aircraft to carry the same number of weapons without sacrificing performance. It is also designed for internal carriage.

As TWZ has previously written:

“An advanced rocket motor with highly loaded propellant has long been seen as a likely route to give the AIM-260A significantly greater range, as well as speed, over the AIM-120 without making the new missile larger. A core known requirement for the JATM is that it has to have the same general form factor as the AMRAAM, in large part to ensure that it can fit inside the internal bays on stealth fighters like the F-22 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. In addition to crewed aircraft, AIM-260As are expected to arm future stealthy drones like the ones under development under the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.”

…

“The AIM-260A’s rocket motor is also likely to be a dual-pulse design that retains energy across the flight envelope to further extend range and help dramatically with endgame maneuverability. Thrust vectoring capability would also be a requisite to give the missile sufficient agility in the absence of additional control surfaces.”

…

“An active electronically scanned array radar (AESA) seeker is likely. Multi-mode seeker capability, potentially with imaging infrared and passive radiofrequency (RF) guidance capabilities, could be extremely valuable in the face of an ever-expanding countermeasure ecosystem, although we have no idea if this is a feature now or not. It’s also possible it could be introduced in later variants. Advanced networking capabilities would be a key feature, allowing the missile to get additional targeting information from an array of third-party sources. This is especially important for engaging targets beyond the reach of the launch platform’s own sensors, and it can allow the aircraft firing the missile, especially a stealthy one, to avoid having to switch on its radar and increase its vulnerability to detection as a result. Multiple networked JATMs might even be able to prosecute engagements cooperatively.”

U.S. Air Force officials have publicly acknowledged that the PL-15 was a key driver behind the AIM-260 program. According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the Chinese missile “out-ranges the U.S.-made AIM-120C/D AMRAAM series and has a comparable maximum range to the Meteor.”

The PL-15 is already widely fielded, while China has also developed even longer-range air-to-air missiles, including the much larger PL-17. This weapon is widely believed to be optimized for engaging high-value support aircraft, such as aerial refueling tankers and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platforms, at extreme distances. We have previously taken a closer look at the still largely mysterious PL-17 here.

Those two Chinese missiles are also expected to be joined by a new weapon currently referred to as the PL-16. The missile appears to have been developed to allow the J-20 to carry six long-range air-to-air missiles internally, rather than the four PL-15s it currently accommodates. While expected to retain a broadly similar overall design to the PL-15, the PL-16 is believed to use a compressed-carriage configuration, reducing its size to maximize the J-20’s internal missile load. In that respect, the PL-16 appears conceptually similar to the AIM-260, in its emphasis on internal carriage capacity.

The air-to-air threat in the Indo-Pacific is only set to increase, with the potential for the carriage of larger numbers of even bigger and further-reaching air-to-air missiles in the capacious weapons bays of new-generation Chinese combat aircraft.

As TWZ has reported in the past, the U.S. Air Force envisions a future in which counter-air missiles could engage targets at ranges of up to 1,000 miles by 2050. While such capabilities remain decades away and far exceed the reach of today’s longest-range air defense missiles, the projection underscores the trajectory of long-range aerial warfare and the growing emphasis on extending engagement distances.

Another U.S. response to China’s growing long-range air-to-air missile capability is the AIM-174B, currently carried by U.S. Navy F/A-18E/Fs. Derived from the SM-6 surface-to-air missile family, it is substantially larger and heavier than the AIM-260, trading compact size for dramatically greater engagement range.

How The Navy’s New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Will Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble

RAAF officials have previously indicated that Australia has no plans to acquire the AIM-174B, according to FlightGlobal.

Australia’s decision to procure the missile aligns with its broader effort to modernize the Australian Defence Force’s long-range strike and air defense capabilities amid an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific security environment, in which the threat posed by China’s rapidly expanding military capabilities is paramount. Canberra’s recently released 2026 National Defence Strategy emphasizes the importance of a layered air and missile defense architecture capable of countering advanced regional threats.

The government says the AIM-260 will provide the RAAF with a more credible deterrent against hostile aircraft while complementing existing air-to-air missiles and the Australian Defence Force’s expanding inventory of ground-based air defense systems. The acquisition will also improve interoperability with U.S. forces, particularly as both countries increasingly operate together in the Indo-Pacific.

While the government has not disclosed delivery schedules or the number of missiles to be acquired, Australia is now set to become the AIM-260’s first export customer, giving the RAAF access to one of the world’s most advanced beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles once it enters operational service.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

The FO-backed Travel Health Pro site has completed new review and warned of new high levels of Brits returning with disease

Officials have issued a new list of countries people need to be wary of after ‘UK deaths’ caused by a disease. The Travel Health Pro site, which is backed by the UK’s Foreign Office said people need to take precautions at these 13 locations.

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued new guidance this summer on how to avoid getting malaria. Travel Health Pro added: “Each year several UK travellers die from malaria after visiting malaria risk countries, with most travellers who catch malaria reporting travel to Africa.” To read the guidance click here.

2,004 imported malaria cases were reported in the UK in 2023 (returning to pre-pandemic levels), up from 1,369 in 2022

Most affected individuals had traveled to Africa, particularly11 visiting friends and relatives.

Travel Health Pro said this week it has completed a review and has now published new risk maps for the key countries:

• Belize
• Botswana
• Dominican Republic
• Eswatini
• French Guiana
• India
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• Papua New Guinea
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Sudan

Malaria is a serious febrile illness due to infection of red blood cells with a parasite called Plasmodium and is transmitted by mosquitoes.

Clinical symptoms and signs of malaria

(These symptoms and signs are taken from the UKMEAG malaria treatment guidelines.)

Non-specific symptoms of malaria:

• fever, sweats or chills
• malaise (vague discomfort)
• myalgia (muscle pain, tenderness)
• diarrhoea
• cough

Major features of severe or complicated falciparum malaria in adults:

• impaired consciousness or seizures
• renal impairment (oliguria less than 0.4 millilitre per kilogram (ml/kg) bodyweight per hour or creatinine more than 265 micromoles per litre (μmol/l))
• acidosis (pH less than 7.3)
• hypoglycaemia (less than 2.2 mmol/l)
• pulmonary oedema or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• spontaneous bleeding or disseminated intravascular coagulation
• shock (algid malaria)
• haemoglobinuria (without G6PD deficiency)

Travel Health Pro added: “All travellers visiting areas where malaria occurs are at risk of acquiring the disease, particularly migrants to the UK who were born in malaria risk areas and return to visit friends and relatives in their country of birth. Any immunity travellers may have acquired in their country of origin wanes rapidly on migration to a country with no risk of malaria; their UK-born children will have no protection from the disease. Certain travellers are at increased risk of severe disease such as: pregnant women, those with an absent or poorly functioning spleen, children and older travellers.”

In terms of prevention it added: “Travellers should follow insect bite avoidance advice, including covering up with loosely fitting clothes, ideally long sleeves, long trousers and socks if out of doors. This helps to reduce biting mosquitoes’ access to skin.

“All travellers should be aware of the signs and symptoms of malaria and should be advised to seek immediate medical attention if these occur either whilst abroad or up to a year after their return. They should also let the health professional know they have visited a malaria risk area.

“No regimen is 100% effective, but a combination of preventive measures will give significant protection against the potentially severe consequences of malaria.

“Choice of malaria prevention tablets depends on the malaria species common in the area to be visited and whether there is resistance to any of the available drugs. Certain drugs may not be suitable for certain individuals due to existing medical problems or interactions with their regular medication.”

For more information click here.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially launched his reelection campaign, warning against foreign interference and vowing to defend Brazil’s sovereignty as political tensions rise ahead of October’s election.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters is facing backlash after telling a Chinese-born MP to ‘go back to your own country’ during a parliamentary debate. The remarks drew criticism at home, while China urged New Zealand politicians not to invoke Beijing in domestic disputes.

A NEW passport rule introduced earlier this year has already caught out a number of families.

As many as 1.2million people can no longer use their foreign passport to enter the country.

These passport rules came into play in February and mean that British nationals have to carry a valid British passport to return to the UK.

They can no longer use their foreign passport to enter the country.

An alternative is to have a “certificate of entitlement” costing £589.

Despite being in place for five months, the new rules have been catching people out.

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In one case, a British student was stuck in Rome and missed six weeks of school – she was unable to return home for over a month.

The 15-year-old girl had been visiting her grandmother in Italy in April of this year.

When it was time to return home, she was turned away at the airport because she didn’t have a valid British passport.

The girl’s father sought help from the Home Office and the Foreign Office.

He told The Guardian: “The embassy, the Home Office and the Foreign Office bounced us from one to another.

“They are playing with people’s lives, a child’s education. It is loathsome.”

Eventually, she was issued with an emergency travel document.

In another case, one British woman was caught out when she was trying to travel from Copenhagen to Manchester with her two children.

Colette Bjorn-Alderson, who has lived in the UK for 28 years, had been in the Danish country since April, but was returning to the UK with her six-week- old and 23-month-old for a wedding.

However, her two children only had Danish passports which meant they didn’t have valid travel documents for returning to the UK.

She told The Times that she felt “unwelcome in my own country” after being turned away from the flight.

Colette sent photocopies of her documents to the Home Office – but ultimately the decision was made that the family could not fly.

In June, dad-of-two, Kyle Harris, was refused boarding onto his flight from Kefalonia in Greece back to the UK due to only having an American passport.

The 39-year-old had been on holiday with his wife and two sons and the family has had to extend their time away as a result.

AS WILDFIRES continue to spread across France and Spain major travel advice has been issued for tourists heading abroad for the summer.

Thousands of excited Brits are gearing up to go on holiday in the coming days but “monster” flames tearing across Europe are beginning to cast doubt over travel plans.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has urged Brit holidaymakers to take care when travelling to the south-west of France where the two main wildfires are spreading.

The Gironde wildfire has been scorching huge swathes of land as it continues to grow as the Biscarrosse fires also rage on.

The FCDO has told travellers to follow instructions and updates from local authorities and emergency services at all times and to call 112 for the emergency services if people are in danger.

They make it clear that “no travel can be guaranteed safe” and that precautions must be taken ahead of time.

HOLIDAY HELL

Wildfires rip through Spain including ‘biggest EVER blaze’ as Brit hols begin

20 MINS OF TERROR

Inside Ryanair hell flight as head is sucked out of window & masks deploy

Having appropriate travel insurance is also a necessity if you want a refund.

Experts say if you’ve booked a package holiday and the company you’ve booked with cancels because of wildfires, you should be offered a refund or have alternative arrangements offered to you.

If you’ve booked your flights and accommodation separately, you will need to speak to your airline and the company you booked your hotel, apartment or villa with separately to see if they will refund you.

Make sure to keep a record of any official warnings, cancellation notices, emails from your airline and screenshots of travel advice.

Similar guidance has been issued for people heading to Spain with the UK government advising people to avoid travelling through the two main affected areas of Madrid and Avila.

Both Spanish regions are already under a national emergency as thousands of hectares of land are being ravaged by multiple fires.

French officials have also urged holidaymakers to stay away from wildfire zones and told tourists already in active areas to pack their bags and make plans to leave.

Sophie Brocas, the prefect for Nouvelle-Aquitaine, said: “We urge tourists not to come to this region, at least until the situation is under control.

“I encourage tourists who are already here to consider another destination.”

Authorities have already evacuated campsites, tourist accommodation and some residential areas across the south-west.

French President Emmanuel Macron is due to convene a crisis meeting later today to discuss the wildfires as they near the tourist city of Bordeaux.

Flames are now just seven miles away from the ancient French city centre with hundreds of thousands of people in Gironde already being evacuated from their homes.

Your rights if your holiday is cancelled due to wildfires

EXPERTS are warning any Brit families who have holidays booked to Spain or France to check the official advice, and make sure you are covered by your travel insurance.

Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, said the FCDO should always be the main place to check.

He said: “Wildfires can move quickly and cause serious disruption, so if you’re due to travel to an affected destination, the first thing to do is check the latest FCDO advice for that country and your specific resort or region.

“If they advise against travel, your holiday provider or travel insurer may be able to support you, depending on how you booked and what your policy includes.”

You should also check your travel insurance policy before you go to see what it covers.

“Some include cover for natural disasters under ‘catastrophe cover’, but this is not always included as standard and not every insurer will define wildfires in the same way,” Rhys added.

“Look at whether your policy covers cancellation, travel disruption, alternative accommodation, emergency medical treatment and repatriation, and contact the insurer directly if anything is unclear.”

He adds: “Don’t wait until you are in the middle of an emergency to understand your cover.

“Check your policy wording before you go, know your insurer’s emergency contact details, and make sure your documents are easy to access online and offline.”

Your travel insurance could help you get back any costs your accommodation provider or airline won’t refund you for, if it covers cancellation or “catastrophe”.

Sitting even closer to the fires is Bordeaux Airport with the hotel nearby being evacuated overnight.

Flights are yet to be impacted despite a cloud of smoke beginning to choke the city.

The latest update from Bordeaux Airport came on Sunday as they said: “The airport is currently operational and is doing everything it can to provide the region with all the necessary support in the ongoing fight against the fires. 

“Commercial flights are operating as normal.”

Anyone travelling should contact their holiday provider and airline before jetting off.

For information on the wildfires, the French Prefecture has opened a public information line from 9am to 5pm which can be accessed by calling +33 (0)9 70 80 90 40 (select option 1 for Gironde).

Across in Spain, temperatures are on track to reach above 40C – sparking concerns that the heat will only help fuel the wildfires.

Officials have said due to the volatile nature of fires, the situation is being reassessed day-by-day so tourists should continue to check the latest guidance.

The raging inferno around Madrid was described as being “at its peak” over the weekend and  “beyond the capacity” of firefighters to control.

People have been given a fresh update on the situation

The Foreign Office has issued an update for people in or travelling to parts of France affected by ongoing wildfires. More areas are facing immediate threats, with thousands forced to flee from the growing danger zone.

As of July 24, the country is battling dozens of wildfires, with the largest having been burning since Tuesday (July 21). Reports suggest that the massive Cap Ferret Peninsula blaze has forced thousands to evacuate the French tourist spot.

The fires, which began earlier this week, have burned for days, with almost 25,000 acres of land (including pine forest) caught up in the flames. The popular tourist region of Arcachon Bay has been evacuated by authorities as the fire threatened homes and businesses in the area.

Posting an update this afternoon, July 24, the Foreign Office said: “Wildfires are affecting parts of Gironde, including areas around Saumos, Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret, where French authorities have evacuated campsites, tourist accommodation and some residential areas. A separate wildfire is also affecting parts of Landes, including Biscarrosse and surrounding areas.

“Access to affected areas may be restricted and roads may close at short notice. If you are in the area or planning to travel there, follow the advice of local authorities, monitor local media, and check with your accommodation or travel provider before travelling.”

The Foreign Office has previously warned that France has a “high risk of wildfires during the summer season”. The chances of wildfires are often higher between the months of April and October.

The risk is highest in the south of the country, particularly along the Mediterranean coast, in Corsica, and in areas of the south-west during periods of hot, dry weather. Check the French weather service’s fire alert map before travelling and monitor local authority advice during your stay.

In the summer months, there is a risk of higher-than-normal temperatures in France. Tourists should monitor the weather forecasts online using trusted sources like the Met Office or the Meteo France website.

If you’re staying in or near a high-risk area, the French government has advised people to know what to do if a wildfire breaks out and how to prevent wildfire outbreaks in the first place. Causing a wildfire in France is illegal, even if it is started by accident, and you could get a fine or a prison sentence.

If you are caught in a wildfire or witness one, call emergency services on 18 (fire) or 112 (emergency services). After alerting the authorities, take shelter and cover your nose and mouth with a damp cloth to protect yourself from the smoke.

The French government said: “Take shelter in a cleared property until the intervention of the emergency services. No car can be considered as a safe place because it may catch fire easily.”

FOREIGN holidays this summer are shaping up to be the cheapest they’ve been in decades – and we’ve found some of the best deals out there.

With peak August package holidays starting from just £188pp and all-inclusive weeks away from £269pp, the dreaded school holiday price surge appears to have collapsed.

Brits’ booking behaviour has been impacted by the cost of living crisis, summer heatwaves and worries over the Iran war and increase in fuel prices, with many opting for a staycation this year instead.

Meanwhile, holiday companies have slashed the price of package holidays abroad – and almost nobody seems to have noticed.

The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, explained: “The conflict in the Middle East – and resulting fears about fuel availability – saw many of us pause our holiday planning.

“Many also chose to wait as England stormed through to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

“With the cost of living still an issue for millions AND the sun shining in yet another heatwave across the UK, there were yet more reasons for us to wait before we booked.

“And that’s resulted in some incredible deals as the big tour operators desperately tempt us to put our holiday pounds on the table.

“Jet2 – now the UK’s largest tour operator – opened its 14th base at Gatwick as the summer season took off putting it in direct competition with its great rivals TUI and easyJet at the UK’s second biggest airport for the first time.

“Increased competition will mean all of the big operators trying to tempt us to book with the kind of holiday prices we haven’t seen in a decade.”

To help you cash in on these price drops, we’ve rounded up seven of the cheapest family holiday deals we could find this summer.

All of these package hols are within the school summer holidays, based on a family of two adults and two kids, and come in at under £300pp.

Marmaris, Turkey – £239pp

Marmaris on Turkey‘s turquoise coast is a very popular family destination, and for good reason.

The resort is a sun-drenched playground packed with golden sandy beaches, ancient castles and a lively waterfront that gives Marmaris that unmistakable holiday buzz.

The Grand Villa Sol Apart offers a brilliant, budget-friendly base close to all the action.

Relax by the sparkling outdoor pool with a drink from the poolside bar, then catch evening entertainment shows out on the terrace.

There’s also a shuttle to whisk you straight to the beach in ten minutes, plus the Aqua Dream Water Park is just a five-minute drive away.

Majorca – £285pp

For beaches with powder-soft sands and waters so calm they feel like a giant paddling pool, take a family holiday to Alcudia in Majorca.

The O7 Be Klub hotel boasts a staggering 11 swimming pools, complete with waterslides and children’s splash zones.

When the sun goes down, head over to the open-air Garden Theatre for live shows, or challenge the family to a round of mini golf.

Alcudia Beach is easily reached by a scenic, three-minute boat trip which takes you straight from the hotel down to the sand.

Tenerife – £188pp

Costa del Silencio is a laid-back Tenerife resort known for its dramatic volcanic landscape, peaceful seafront boardwalk and glass-clear natural pools far away from any noisy crowds.

The Parque Carolina Apartments offer a relaxed place to stay with plenty of room for big families, plus a pretty sun terrace made for catching rays.

The self-catering apartments come with fully-equipped kitchens, plus private patios to enjoy breakfast out in the sun.

When you’re ready for a dip, the bright yellow cliffs and clear waters of Playa Amarilla beach are just a few minutes’ stroll away.

Plus golf lovers can tee off at nearby Amarilla Golf or Golf del Sur, while a 15-minute drive takes you to world-class waterparks like Siam Park and Aqualand.

And at an unbelievable £188pp, this island getaway is the cheapest package holiday deal on our list.

Bulgaria – £279pp

With sweeping golden beaches and famously cheap prices, Sunny Beach is a go-to pick for a bargain summer break.

The Sunny Day Club hotel is an ideal spot for families, tucked into a quieter northern patch of the resort.

Days here revolve around the giant outdoor pool, where parents can laze out on a lounger while little ones burn off energy in the children’s playground.

When hunger strikes, there’s an on-site restaurant and cafe serving unfussy family favourites, plus a poolside snack bar for quick bites.

The buzzy bars, shops and restaurants of Sunny Beach are just a short bus ride away, with a convenient bus stop directly outside the hotel.

Agadir, Morocco – £189pp

For some guaranteed summer heat, head to Agadir, where temperatures sit in the high 20s to early 30s in August.

The Moroccan resort boasts a six-mile stretch of sand to enjoy, plus a vibrant centre with bustling souks and budget-friendly restaurants.

The whitewashed Appart Hotel Igoudar sits right next to a bustling local market, where you can wander past colourful souks selling local goods and spices, as well as browse for souvenirs.

Here you’re a five-minute stroll from the main beach, with a spacious self-catering apartment to return to after days out exploring.

Costa Brava, Spain – £209pp

Blanes offers traditional Spanish charm with its wide sandy shores, lively tapas bars, and bustling seaside promenade.

Hotel Esplendid feels like your own little oasis, where a turquoise swimming pool is sheltered by massive, leafy gardens.

Active families will love the sports setup, with tennis, volleyball, and three separate swimming pools, including an indoor heated option.

There’s also a kids club and games room to keep boredom strictly off the itinerary.

Here you’re just steps from S’abanell Beach, which is the longest sand beach on the Costa Brava.

Pick between sunbathing on its sands or taking in the stunning coastline views from the water on a jet ski or pedalo.

Antalya, Turkey – £269pp

Sitting on Turkey’s sun-drenched southern shores, Mahmutlar in Antalya pairs quiet beaches with dramatic mountain backdrops.

Sun Star Beach Hotel delivers a classic hassle-free, all-inclusive family holiday.

The palm-lined outdoor pool is complete with a yellow waterslide, plus plenty of loungers – so no need to worry about sunbed hoggers.

We found a bargain all-inclusive package that covers buffet meals, poolside snacks and drinks.

There’s even an on-site spa to escape to with a traditional Turkish bath and sauna, allowing you to truly unwind.

You’re also just a minute’s walk from the hotel’s own private beach, and a short bus ride away from central Alanya where you can explore its historic hilltop castle and harbour.

Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for France

British holidaymakers are being cautioned about travel to certain regions of France, with millions of Brits expected to visit the popular European destination this year. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides guidance for travel to more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, covering everything from entry requirements and safety concerns to health measures and local rules.

In a new alert for France, released on Thursday, the FCDO said: “Wildfires are affecting parts of Gironde (in southwestern France), including areas around Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret. French authorities have evacuated some campsites and tourist accommodation. Access to affected areas may be restricted. Roads may be closed at short notice.

“If you are already in the area or are planning to travel there, follow the advice of local authorities, monitor local media, and contact your accommodation or travel provider for latest guidance. If you are affected by a wildfire or another emergency, call 18 (fire service) or 112 (emergency services).”

Further guidance highlights that the risk of wildfires is considerably elevated during the summer months from April to October. The danger is greatest in the south of the country, particularly along the Mediterranean coastline, in Corsica, and across parts of the south-west during spells of hot, dry weather.

Starting a wildfire is a criminal offence in France, even if it occurs accidentally, and could result in a hefty fine or even a custodial sentence.

BUENOS AIRES, July 21 (UPI) — President Javier Milei’s government is backing a bill that would eliminate most of Argentina’s restrictions that have limited foreign ownership of rural land since 2011 in an effort to attract investment and strengthen legal certainty.

The plan also has reignited debate over sovereignty and control of a resource considered strategic.

The proposal is part of the Private Property Inviolability Act, and it would substantially amend the framework established a law enacted during the administration of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner that set limits on the amount of rural land that foreign individuals and companies could own.

Presidential spokesman Adrián Ravier said the initiative seeks to strengthen property rights protected under Argentina’s Constitution. Speaking at a news conference, he said the country had endured decades of legal uncertainty that discouraged investment and hindered opportunities for economic growth and job creation.

“What we are seeking is to remove the general restrictions on the acquisition of rural land by foreigners,” Ravier said.

He also argued that Argentina historically grew thanks to immigrants who invested and became landowners, and that maintaining broad restrictions on foreign investors no longer makes sense. He added that the bill instead strengthens oversight of foreign governments and their state-owned companies.

The initiative also removes one of the central principles of the current law, which states that purchasing rural land by foreigners does not constitute an investment because the land is a nonrenewable natural resource that belongs to the country.

Former Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Julián Domínguez, who promoted the law during Fernández de Kirchner’s administration, had rejected proposed reform.

He told UPI that when Congress approved the legislation, it established that “the acquisition of rural land shall not be considered an investment because it is a nonrenewable natural resource contributed by the recipient country.”

Domínguez contended the proposal contradicts the objective of protecting a strategic resource.

“It is paradoxical. The grandly titled ‘Private Property Inviolability Act’ ends up being, precisely, a violation of Argentines’ rights over their land,” he said.

The former minister also rejected the government’s argument that the current law discouraged foreign investment.

“Our producers are recognized around the world for their ability to adapt and innovate. So does the government believe a foreigner will do a better job than an Argentine producer? The debate is about something else,” he said.

The issue goes beyond economics. Domínguez said.

“In Congress, what is at stake is our identity as Argentines and our relationship with our territory. Every country is very careful about who can buy its land,” he said.

Attorney Enrique Viale, president of the Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers, also criticized the bill, saying it should instead be called the “foreignization of land law.”

He told UPI that the proposal repeals the provisions that establish acreage limits, ownership caps and protected areas for foreign purchases of rural land.

“It repeals the provisions establishing acreage limits, ownership percentages and protected areas. It fully liberalizes land purchases, including in border areas and without ownership caps,” he said.

Viale said foreigners already own large portions of Argentine land, adding that without restrictions, the trend could accelerate.

He said reform would benefit large international investors who seek to develop artificial intelligence-related data centers, as well as foreign landowners who already hold extensive properties in Patagonia and Argentina’s Littoral region.

“I see no benefit in this bill. What it does is consolidate permanent control of land by foreign capital and increase the risk of losing sovereignty,” he said.

From the real estate sector, José Rozados, director of consultancy Reporte Inmobiliario, said easing restrictions could encourage large-scale investment.

“Anything that removes restrictions on the inflow of capital, especially for investments that require large amounts of money and long payback periods, is important,” he said.

Rozados said greater openness would facilitate productive projects that require large tracts of land and significant investment to develop economic activities.

“Whatever legislation is enacted regarding the permissibility and protection of those investments could allow foreign investors, or even local investors partnered with foreign capital, to be willing to invest in large areas of land,” he said.

The law, known as the National Protection Regime for the Ownership, Possession and Tenure of Rural Land, mandates that foreign individuals and companies may not own more than 15% of the country’s rural land — a limit that also applies within each province and municipality.

It also provides that citizens of the same nationality may not account for more than 30% of that quota, equivalent to 4.5% of the total rural land within a given territory.

The legislation also limits to 2,471 acres the amount of land that may be acquired by a single foreign owner in the country’s core agricultural zone, or its equivalent in other regions, and prohibits the sale of land located in border security zones or containing significant permanent bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes and glaciers.

The government’s bill amends several of those provisions to relax the current framework while maintaining restrictions on foreign governments and their state-owned companies.

The ruling coalition failed to secure enough support to move the initiative forward, and the bill will return to the Senate for debate in August.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must work together to shield external pressures, as the group holds a summit in Manila.

July 17 (Asia Today) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule Thursday limiting stays by international students and exchange visitors to no more than four years and requiring them to undergo federal review when seeking extensions.

The rule replaces the open-ended “duration of status” system for holders of F student visas and J exchange visitor visas with fixed admission periods tied to their programs and capped at four years.

About 1.5 million current F- and J-visa holders will automatically be transferred to the new system.

The change, combined with a shorter post-graduation grace period and mandatory extension reviews for students seeking Optional Practical Training, could disrupt the fall semester and reduce demand for study in the United States.

Exchange visitors will also be limited to four-year stays. Foreign journalists holding I visas will generally have to renew their status every 240 days.

Federal review required for extensions

F- and J-visa holders who need to remain in the United States beyond their authorized period will have to apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an extension of stay.

Applicants will be required to submit biometric information and undergo security, identity and fraud screening. They must also demonstrate satisfactory academic progress and financial stability, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The change ends a system in place since 1978 that allowed students to remain in the country as long as they maintained the required course load and complied with the conditions of their immigration status.

Homeland Security officials said more than 2,100 F-1 students who entered the United States between 2000 and 2010 were still maintaining F-1 status in 2025.

The department said the rule was intended to prevent people from repeatedly enrolling in classes to avoid leaving the country, a practice officials described as creating “forever students.”

“For nearly half a century, the outdated duration-of-status system has undermined national security and created an environment where immigration fraud could flourish,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.

“By enforcing clear and finite periods, the United States is restoring its ability to properly screen and manage those who remain in our country,” he said.

Nearly 24,400 Koreans and family members affected

The roughly 1.5 million F- and J-visa holders currently staying in the United States under the duration-of-status system will receive fixed admission periods of up to four years beginning on the rule’s effective date, Bloomberg reported.

Foreign journalists entering on I visas will generally be admitted for 240 days and must apply for additional 240-day periods. Chinese journalists will be limited to 90-day extensions.

More than 1.8 million entries were recorded on student visas in 2024, an increase of more than 11% from the previous year, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The United States also hosted about 500,000 J-visa exchange visitors and 37,000 foreign journalists holding I visas.

Students from India, China and South Korea are expected to be among those most affected by the rule, Bloomberg reported.

According to the South Korean Embassy in Washington, 11,861 South Korean students held F-1 visas in 2025 and 1,347 family members held F-2 visas.

Another 7,985 South Koreans held J-1 exchange visitor visas and 3,180 family members held J-2 visas, bringing the total number of South Korean F- and J-visa holders and their dependents to 24,373.

An additional 349 South Koreans held I visas.

The rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Friday and take effect 60 days later, in mid-September.

Its implementation during the fall semester could create confusion involving visa extensions and student enrollment records, Bloomberg reported.

Shorter grace period could disrupt employment pathway

The rule cuts the grace period after graduation from 60 days to 30 days for students preparing to leave the United States, transfer schools or change immigration status.

It also bars graduate students from changing their educational objectives and requires government approval before they transfer to another institution, Reuters reported.

Doctoral students, whose programs commonly take about six years, may have to apply for extensions before completing their studies and face the possibility of denial, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Doctors participating in long-term training programs will also have to seek extensions after four years, according to Bloomberg.

Nearly all students using Optional Practical Training, which permits eligible graduates to work in the United States for up to three years, will effectively be required to apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for extensions for the first time.

Visa holders who remain beyond their authorized periods could face three- or 10-year bans on re-entering the United States, depending on the length of the overstay.

Technology and financial companies frequently hire international graduates through Optional Practical Training before sponsoring them for H-1B specialty occupation visas.

More restrictive access to practical training could narrow that employment pathway, The Wall Street Journal reported.

David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, said the restrictions on changing educational objectives and transferring schools lacked a legal basis.

He said graduates who fail to find an employer sponsor within 30 days could “immediately become unlawfully present.”

Education groups consider challenge

Fanta Aw, president and chief executive officer of the Association of International Educators, called the rule a misguided and unnecessary policy change.

She said it would inject “uncertainty, bureaucracy and fear” into a system that had operated effectively for decades and said the association was considering all available options to challenge it.

Todd Lyons, a former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in May that the agency had launched an investigation into fraud involving Optional Practical Training.

Lyons said investigators had identified 10,000 international students employed by companies suspected of fraud and described the program as a “magnet for fraud,” Bloomberg reported.

The number of international students in the United States fell 1.4% during the previous fall semester, while new international student enrollment declined 17%.

Student visa issuance fell 36% during the previous summer, and the new rule could accelerate the decline as it takes effect during the fall semester, Bloomberg reported.

The regulation will also be subject to congressional review before its implementation, Reuters reported.

Doug Rand, a former Homeland Security official, said most Americans understand both the value of welcoming international students and the need to eliminate unnecessary regulation.

“This rule will achieve precisely the opposite result,” he said.

International education expert Rajika Bhandari said students would consider not only whether they could obtain visas and enter the United States but also whether they had viable long-term options after completing their studies.

She said Asian students and graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields would be particularly affected.

“The implications of this change are not yet fully understood by students, but they will be profound,” Bhandari said.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260717010006341

Latest travel advice for updated information about travelling with medication

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an alert today (July 17), updating its travel advice for British tourists travelling to the European hotspot with medication. With the peak travel season almost here, families up and down the country are set to go away on holiday as schools close, with Portugal a top pick for many.

Plenty of people will pack various medications with them when going on holiday, and for anyone going to Portugal, the FCDO has shared the latest information to keep in mind. It says: “The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.”

The FCDO says there are strict rules around dispensing certain medicines in Portugal, including antibiotics. It explains: “UK prescriptions are not recognised so bring in Portugal.

“Carry enough medication for your visit. Keep the medication in the original container with the prescription label. UK prescriptions are not recognised in Portugal. Carry enough medication for your visit.”

It continues: “If you need a repeat prescription, go to the nearest health centre or hospital A&E. You may have to pay for your medication. You will need to go to a pharmacy to get most medicines, though some non-prescription medication is sold at health stores in supermarkets and shopping centres. Find a pharmacy on the Pharmacy Association website.”

Holiday-goers can read best practices when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro. Changes to your routine when travelling, such as later nights, coping with heat and changes to your diet, can have an impact on your medication. See the Summer Proof Your Health campaign for more information.

Key advice when travelling with medication from FCDO

Check your destination before bringing medication with you. The FCDO advises reviewing the specific country page for the place you are visiting (and transiting). Many include a ‘Health’ section with medication notes. Some countries have strict rules on certain medicines (including over-the-counter ones). Generally, it is best to:

• Carry medication in its original pharmacy packaging, with a copy of your prescription and a letter from your prescriber/doctor.
• Keep it primarily in hand luggage (with some extra in hold luggage as backup).
• Take enough for your entire trip plus extra for delays.
• The legal status of your medication (including some OTC items) can differ abroad — some countries ban or restrict substances legal in the UK.

What are the rules for controlled drugs like certain painkillers?

• For quantities of three months’ supply or more, you may need a UK export licence (apply at least 10 days in advance).
• Carry a doctor’s letter detailing your name, the medication (generic name, dose, quantity), travel dates, and reason.
• Always check rules for your destination country via its embassy/high commission in the UK.

Travellers can stay up to date with the latest travel advice on the FCDO country page. There is also the NaTHNaC Medicines factsheet. Gov.uk also offers guidance on taking medicine in or out of the UK. People can also contact the destination country’s embassy for specific import rules.

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl was stranded in Rome and missed six weeks of school because of confusing new passport rules.

The new dual nationality rules meant that she was unable to return home for over a month.

The British girl had been visiting her grandmother in Italy in April of this year.

When it was time to return home, she was turned away at the airport because she didn’t have a valid British passport.

The new passport rules that came into play in February mean that British nationals have to carry a valid British passport to return to the UK – they can no longer use their foreign passport.

An alternative is to have a “certificate of entitlement” costing £589.

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Rowan Somerville, the father of the 15-year-old stranded in Rome, sought help from the Home Office and the Foreign Office.

But he told The Guardian: “The embassy, the Home Office and the Foreign Office bounced us from one to another.

“They are playing with people’s lives, a child’s education. It is loathsome.”

Rowan Somerville said that the Home Office couldn’t give his daughter a temporary passport because she didn’t have a British passport in the first place.

The girl’s school and local MP Joe Powell contacted the Home Office and the FCDO who eventually issued an emergency travel document.

Joe Powell said that “changes to Home Office rules resulted in her being stuck in Rome and missing six weeks of school.”

Joe Powell added: “Thankfully, we were able to help and she’s now at home and back in school, but unfortunately this was not an isolated case.”

A Home Office spokesperson told Sun Travel: “This individual was granted an Emergency Travel Document in May, enabling them to return to the UK.

“We also remained in contact regarding a passport application, and once the required information was received and checks were concluded, a passport was issued within eight days.

“Since 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens have needed to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK.

“Without one, carriers cannot verify British citizenship, which may lead to delays or refused boarding.” were concluded, a passport was issued within eight days.”

There are thought to be as many as 1.2million people who can no longer use their foreign passport to enter the country.

Despite the rules being outlined on the Gov.uk website, they are continuing to catch people out.

In another case, a woman who has lived in the UK for 28 years, but had been staying in Copenhagen attempted to return to the UK with her six-week- old and 23-month-old for a friend’s wedding.

But the family was refused boarding because her two children only had Danish passports which meant they didn’t have valid travel documents for returning to the UK.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued an alcohol warning to Brits travelling to Greece, and it’s particularly important ahead of the summer holidays

The Foreign Office has issued a warning to British holidaymakers travelling to Greece about the consumption of alcohol.

On Tuesday, 14 July, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice for Greece to include new information on alcohol laws and underage drinking. The guidance was outlined on its ‘safety and security’ page, which is crucial advice for any Brits planning to visit Greece, particularly ahead of the summer holidays.

The FCDO stated in the update: “It is illegal to sell or provide alcohol to anyone under 18, any businesses found doing so can face large fines and possible closure. Bars and nightclubs are not allowed to admit or serve anyone under 18, even if accompanied by an adult. Expect age verification checks at points of sale.”

In a stark warning to British travellers, the Foreign Office added: “If a minor is harmed through excessive drinking, or underage intoxication is brought to the attention of local authorities, parents or other accompanying adults, as well as those who supplied the alcohol, could face legal consequences under general child protection laws.”

The new information on alcohol in Greece comes as thousands of families are expected to jet off abroad during the summer holidays. The FCDO also warned Brits to “always carry your passport, to show to the police if they request identification”, as they may not accept a copy or other forms of identification documents.

Ahead of the busy summer period, the FCDO has also updated its safety advice on swimming. For anyone travelling to Greece, they warned: “Every year, people drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Greece.”

In advice when using a swimming pool, they said: “Always supervise children. Keep small children within arm’s reach in and around swimming pools, even if they can swim or there is a lifeguard present.”

For anyone planning a trip to the beach in Greece, the Foreign Office further advised: “Take care when swimming in the sea. Always supervise children and keep small children within arm’s reach.

“Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. Do not dive into unknown water.

“Many organised beaches have a flag system. Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings. A red flag means you must not enter the water.

“Take extra care and get local knowledge if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.”

Water sports are another popular activity during a trip abroad, particularly in the azure waters of Greece. The FCDO cautioned: “Only book activities at a licensed water sports centre and before you start:

• Make sure the paperwork is completed
• Ask for a safety demonstration
• Make sure you know how to call for help

“For more advice, see the website for Safe Water Sports, a non-profit organisation in Greece that aims to prevent accidents.”

For more information, visit the Foreign Office travel advice website.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

You may need to seek urgent medical attention while abroad

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning to Brits heading abroad. As our government’s foreign affairs department, the FCDO is responsible for many tasks – one of which is distribute travel advice in a bid to help trips run smoothly and to keep people safe.

And in a new post on X, formerly Twitter, FCDO has warned of a potentially life-threatening issue that can present symptoms similar to a “bad hangover”. The alert reads: “Methanol poisoning can be hard to spot. Early symptoms can feel like a bad hangover.

“Learn the warning signs and know how to reduce the risk.” Further information found within a linked government campaign explains: “Alcohol contaminated with methanol and targeted spiking incidents can lead to serious illness and death.”

Methanol is an industrial alcohol used in products like antifreeze, fuel and paint thinners. FCDO guidance continues: “In some parts of the world methanol products are sometimes illegally mixed with ‘real’ alcohol such as spirit-based drinks and cocktails.

“Medical experts believe that as little as 30ml (roughly equivalent to a shot) of methanol can be fatal for an adult, while 10ml can cause blindness.” Early symptoms include vomiting, a loss of balance, drowsiness, and poor judgement.

Twelve to 48 hours after drinking there may be vertigo, hyperventilation, abdominal pain, breathlessness, coma, convulsions, and blurred vision and/or blindness. If you or someone you are travelling with have these symptoms you should seek urgent medical attention.

FCDO advice adds: “Vision issues are a distinctive red flag, particularly blurry vision, trouble looking at bright lights, and in some cases complete blindness. ‘Snowfield vision’ (seeing snowy static like an old TV) or tunnel vision can also occur.”

Seeking urgent medical attention could save your life.

A 93-year-old British woman has died in hospital after suffering burns to about 20% of her body in the Spanish wildfires. Her death was confirmed on Sunday afternoon, bringing the total number of fatalities from the fires to 13.

A stark warning has been issued to Brits travelling to Spain as the country continues to battle ferocious wildfires.

A 93-year-old British woman has died following injuries sustained in the deadly wildfires that tore through southern Spain, authorities confirmed this morning. The Andalusian government revealed the woman was rushed to hospital on Friday after sustaining burns to roughly 20% of her body.

Her death was confirmed on Sunday afternoon, pushing the total death toll from the blazes to 13.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a travel alert regarding the fires in Los Gallardos, Almería, in Andalucía. It urges those in the area to:

• follow instructions from local authorities and emergency services at all times
• avoid travelling into or through the affected area
• follow updates from the emergency services
• for emergencies, call 112

Have you been impacted by the wildfires? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

The FCDO notes that anyone concerned about someone in the area can call +34 677 904 624 provided by the Psychological Intervention Group for Emergencies and Disasters. English speaking staff are available. Consular assistance can be found by calling +34 917 146 300 if you’re in Spain, and +44 (0)20 7008 5000 if you’re in the UK.

At least four victims in Andalusia are believed to be British, after four bodies were discovered in a burnt-out vehicle with its steering wheel on the right-hand side.

This comes after reports on Sunday that two British hikers were found alive but severely burnt. The man and woman, who remain unnamed, are believed to have suffered burns to 40% of their bodies, according to Spanish national broadcaster RTVE.

The pair was located by a Civil Guard team, who revealed they had already swept the area, but had a gut feeling they needed to return. Speaking to RTVE, the Civil Guard officers described finding the two British nationals alive just as darkness was closing in.

Sergeant Pedro Barre told the broadcaster: “That experience we accumulate over the years is what tells you: take another look, give it one last try, check again just in case.”

He explained that the team called out and blew whistles, before eventually detecting a noise they initially thought might be an echo.

Fellow rescuer Rafael Zea added that given the severity of the couple’s injuries, it must have taken a “Titanic effort” for them to raise their voices loud enough to be heard. Firefighters and emergency services helped rescue the pair after more than two hours trapped.

Both individuals are currently reported to be in a serious condition in hospital, though their lives are not thought to be at risk. Spanish authorities believe all the victims were foreign tourists, who are thought to have attempted to escape on foot after apparently abandoning their vehicles and trying to flee through rugged terrain.

Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services, previously said that authorities had completed post-mortem examinations and DNA samples were collected to identify them.

Spain has been hit by frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures regularly soaring above 40C. In June, Spain endured several days of record-breaking heat, with more than 1,000 excess deaths attributed to the scorching conditions.

Dr Thomas Smith, Associate Professor in Environmental Geography, London School of Economics and Political Science, explained why Spain is suffering so intensely from the fires.

“The extreme wildfire behaviour we’re seeing in Spain is closely linked to the extreme heatwave weather conditions. Fire behaviour (how quickly a fire spreads and how intensely it burns) is heavily influenced by the weather. Research shows that key measures such as rate of spread and the size of flames increase exponentially as fire weather becomes more severe, meaning that relatively small increases in extreme fire weather can produce disproportionately more dangerous fires,” he said.

“When weather conditions reach record-breaking levels, we should expect the potential for record-breaking fire behaviour, particularly when strong winds are present to accelerate fire spread and make suppression much more difficult.

“Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of the extreme heat and fire weather conditions that create these dangerous environments. While individual fires are influenced by many factors, including ignition sources, vegetation, and land management, climate change is inextricably linked to the record-breaking weather that is driving the conditions for these extreme wildfires.”