Singapore-headquartered Yinson Production recently issued a record-breaking $1.168 billion bond for a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit in Brazil.
This marks the largest and longest-dated FPSO project bond to date, the longest-dated structured finance bond in Brazil, and the highest order book ever for an FPSO project bond.
Yinson Production used a project bond to secure long-term financing for a key asset (FPSO Maria Quitéria) integral to Petrobras’ offshore operations in Brazil. This financial strategy optimizes Yinson Production’s capital structure and attracts a wide range of institutional investors.
According to Yinson Production CFO Markus Wenker, FPSO project bonds are gaining popularity with investors due to their long-term, fixed-rate contracts (usually 15-25 years), which offer high cash flow visibility and resilience. These assets are crucial to oil companies, offering strong downside protection against default. Despite Petrobras’s financial history, it has never defaulted on an FPSO. Fitch ratings for FPSO bonds are higher than for Petrobras (BB+ vs. BB), yet they offer a higher yield, indicating a better risk-reward profile. Replacing an FPSO mid-production cycle is also prohibitively expensive due to factors including cost inflation and supply chain disruptions.
Yinson Production is shifting to public bond markets due to changes in the financing landscape for long-dated assets. Basel regulations have made long-term bank loans expensive, limiting terms to just 5–8 years, and export credit agencies have stopped financing new oil and gas projects due to ESG concerns. Diversifying funding through debt capital markets (DCM) allows Yinson Production to eliminate refinancing risk, increase financing efficiency, and de-risk its balance sheet.
Wenker explains, “The incongruity of financing maturities and project lives would leave FPSO owners exposed to significant refinancing risks resulting in an uneven consolidated debt amortisation profile with peaks. The debt capital markets, in contrast, offer pockets of money with an appetite for very long-dated bonds like project bonds.”
This approach also frees up bank exposure for new projects, as banks remain vital for construction financing, while DCM is more suitable for long-term financing during the lease and operate phase. Yinson Production also collaborates with infrastructure funds to optimize its capital structure.
Gogglebox fan favourite Georgia Bell has had fans sending their support after she shared an emotional announcement online
Gogglebox’s Georgia Bell issues sad family announcement nine months after welcoming baby(Image: Channel 4)
A cherished Gogglebox favourite has received overwhelming support from devoted viewers following her heartfelt family revelation.
Georgia Bell initially appeared on the Channel 4 programme in 2018 alongside best mate Abbie Lynn. It’s safe to say the pair quickly won over audiences with their infectious charm.
Throughout the years, Georgia and Abbie – who reside in Durham – have left viewers in hysterics with their brilliant quips and amusing commentary on television’s finest moments.
Beyond the programme, hairdresser Georgia is a devoted mother to two boys, Hugh – who arrived in July 2022 – and Ralphie – who was born in November 2024 – with partner Josh Newby, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Georgia and Abbie have been keep audiences in stitches for years with their hilarious quips
Recently, Georgia expressed her melancholy in a touching family revelation. Posting to her Instagram account, the Channel 4 personality shared multiple photographs of baby Ralphie.
In her message, she disclosed to followers: “Maternity leave comes to an end tomorrow. An absolute rollercoaster it’s been, transitioning to a family of 5 welcoming our little Ralphie into the world.
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“I feel like l’ve learnt so much more to motherhood this time round and I couldn’t feel any luckier to have our perfect little family.
“There’s been so many highs, absolute chaos, laughs, tears, tantrums and most importantly unconditional love.”
Delivering a relationship update, Georgia continued: “Even having more time with Hugh has been so special we have two happy and healthy boys and that’s all I could ever wish for. Onto the next chapter.”
Georgia Bell, who stars on Channel 4 Gogglebox with pal Abbie, has announced she is stepping away from hairdressing.
Supporters quickly filled the comments section with messages of encouragement for Georgia. One fan penned: “It will be difficult you got this you have a beautiful family love watching your stories.xx.”
Another chimed in: “All the best in your new chapter, it will be worth it as you have an evening of family time together, with new conversations and new routines. You will be fine.”
Her Gogglebox colleague Abbie also expressed her admiration, stating: “Extremely proud of you Ge! You are the bestest mama to the most beautiful boys!”.
Gogglebox series 26 is scheduled to begin on Friday, September 5th, 2025, on Channel 4.
Passengers headed to Greece are urged to keep an eye on Jet2’s website for updates as the airline continues to monitor strike developments that could impact flights
Flights could be affected by an upcoming 24-hour strike(Image: Anton Petrus via Getty Images)
Jet2 has alerted travellers jetting off to Greece tomorrow (Thursday August 28) about planned industrial action which “may impact Greek Air Traffic Control”.
The air carrier confirmed it was keeping a close watch on the situation and currently intends to operate all flights as scheduled. Holidaymakers are advised to check the airline’s website regularly for the latest information.
The industrial action is scheduled to run from 9.30am until 1.30pm local time. The walkout forms part of a broader 24-hour strike organised by public sector union ADEDY.
Jet2 is advising passengers to arrive to the airport on time as all flights are currently set to proceed(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
It comes in response to a proposed draft law, with fears it could negatively affect trade union, social and political activities, Travel and World Tour World reports.
In a statement on its website, Jet2 said: “We are currently monitoring a planned General Strike in Greece that is due to take place between 09:30 – 13:30 (Greek local time) on Thursday 28 August 2025 and may impact Greek Air Traffic Control.
“You don’t need to contact us or take any extra actions – we will continue to monitor this strike action and publish any updates here on our website.” In light of potential disruptions, Aegean Airlines has offered its customers the chance to alter their tickets, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Aegean Airlines is offering travellers to change their flight ahead of the strike(Image: MarioGuti via Getty Images)
The Greek airline stated on its website: “Due to the possibility of the 4-hour work suspension (09:30–13:30) of air traffic controllers, all passengers holding tickets for Thursday, August 28, 2025, are offered proactively the flexibility to change their tickets for a new travel date until September 30th 2025, without any reissue fee and fare difference or cancel their booking and receive a credit voucher for future use, should they wish to.”
The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers’ Association called on controllers to walk out in support of a 24-hour strike by Greece’s main public sector union ADEDY over disciplinary rules set to be introduced for civil employees which are set for a parliamentary vote this week However, Greek carriers Aegean and Olympic Air said flights would go ahead as normal.
According to Greek Travel Pages, only essential flights will be allowed to operate during the work stoppage including:
International flights crossing the Athens FIR
Flights carrying heads of state or prime ministers
Hellenic Air Force missions and scheduled exercises
Rob Fraser, the heritage stonemason at BBC’s The Repair Shop, was tasked with a delicate restoration that required careful attention to detail, as he warned ‘this is not going to be easy’
BBC The Repair Shop expert says heartbreaking restoration is ‘not going to be easy’(Image: BBC)
The latest instalment of BBC’s The Repair Shop left viewers reaching for the tissues, as newcomer Rob Fraser was given the task of restoring an item with enormous sentimental value.
During Tuesday’s (August 26) episode, which recently saw one expert fret about their repair, heritage stonemason Rob Fraser was introduced to a couple, John and Margaret Ivin, who had brought along a fragment of plaster from their kitchen wall for restoration.
The damaged pieces of plaster bore writing on them, which prompted BBC favourite Dominic China to ask about its importance.
Margaret explained that during a kitchen refurbishment last summer, their builder had uncovered the message concealed behind one of the original cupboards. She said: “Where they’d taken one of the original cupboards off the wall, this was behind it and it was a complete shock to see it there.”
John and Margaret had an important item with them that needed fixing(Image: BBC)
The message had been penned by their late son Christopher when he was approximately 14-years-old. It read: “This is original wallpaper. Friday 4:15 8th December 1989. Please leave this wallpaper, Chris.”
Margaret, clearly emotional, explained that Christopher frequently left messages for them. She then disclosed the devastating news that their son had tragically passed away from a rare form of testicular cancer when he was nearly 35.
She said: “It was 18 months from diagnosis to when he died. When you lose a child, you never get over it, you get through it and we’ve just got through it.”
Discovering their son’s handwriting once again on the plasterwork proved deeply emotional, and it became apparent that Rob was facing an enormously difficult task ahead.
The broken plaster was found during their kitchen renovation(Image: BBC)
Taking a closer look at the damaged plaster, he said: “There’s so much going on, the paper is really fragmented, so that’s very risky. I’ll have to take my time, I might need some help.
“It’s not going to be easy. I need to get eyes on all these pieces and work out what condition each individual piece is in. I’m really nervous about handling this. This is gypsum plaster, which is very brittle.”
In the end, Rob successfully managed to restore the plasterwork and the time came to show John and Margaret the final result as the expert called upon two more specialists from the workshop to help.
When the big reveal happened, they were completely amazed as Margaret gasped: “That’s amazing.” Both were moved to tears as John could be spotted wiping his eyes.
BBC The Repair Shop expert says heartbreaking restoration is ‘not going to be easy’(Image: BBC)
She added: “What can I say? What can I say? It’s funny handwriting, he would be chuffed to bits to see that. I mean, he was what, 14? and he would’ve been 48 this year.”
John said: “He was a lovely boy, yeah.” Both thanked the experts for fixing the damaged plaster as they stressed how incredible it was.
The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC) on Monday released the findings of investigations into three mishaps involving the troubled KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker that cost the service nearly $23 million. The incidents all involved nozzle binding, a situation in which the tanker’s refueling boom nozzle gets stuck or binds with the receiving aircraft’s receptacle.
Two of the incidents occurred in 2022 and a third in 2024. A fourth mishap took place July 8, 2025 and is still being investigated, AMC stated. There were no fatalities, injuries, or civilian property damage in any of these mishaps.
(USAF AIB)
The first of these nozzle binding mishaps took place on Oct. 15, 2022. A KC-46A Pegasus assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing and operated by the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey and an F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing and operated by the 335th Fighting Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, were conducting routine air refueling operations.
“During the mishap, a nozzle binding accident occurred during a breakaway which resulted in the air-refueling boom (ARB) striking the tail section of the KC-46A,” AMC said in a statement.
The Accident Investigation Board (AIB) found that a “preponderance of the evidence” showed one cause for the mishap.
“Due to a limitation of the Air Refueling Boom (ARB) control system,” the KC-46 boom operator “inadvertently placed a radial force on the ARB that caused the nozzle to become bound in the receiver’s receptacle,” according to the AIB. “As a result, the bound forces exceeded the structural limitations of the ARB and caused a rapid upward movement of the ARB when released, striking the tail cone” of the Pegasus.
In addition, two other factors “substantially contributed” to this incident.
The Pegasus pilot failed to notify either the plane’s boom operator or the Strike Eagle’s pilot about an “engine power reduction” on the refueler.
“This action, combined with the known ARB stiffness limitation and the resulting high engine power setting on [the F-15E], resulted in “a rapid forward movement” of that jet relative to the Pegasus.
In addition, “due to a limitation of the automated boom control system, the ARB entered an uncontrollable state during its upward motion toward the aircraft tail, disabling the boom control laws which could have slowed the rate at which the ARB struck the tail cone, substantially contributing to the mishap,” according toCol. Chad Cisewski, who led this AIB.
The estimated damages to the aircraft were $8,307,257.93, according to AMC.
Damage to the KC-46A’s tail section after the Oct. 15, 2022 nozzle binding mishap. (USAF AIB report)
Less than a month later, on Nov. 7 2022, there was another nozzle binding incident while a KC-46A Pegasus assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing and operated by the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron was refueling a F-22A Raptor assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The flight was in support of a joint-force training exercise from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
“During the second air refueling attempt of the sortie, the KC-46A experienced a nozzle binding event during a breakaway with the F-22A, which resulted in damage to the ARB nozzle,” AMC said in its statement. “The bound forces exceeded the structural limitations of the ARB nozzle, damaging the nozzle beyond repair.”
A stock picture of a KC-46 tanker refueling an F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. (Boeing Defense) Boeing Defens
The AIB determined “by a preponderance of the evidence, one cause for this mishap,” the report stated. The boom operator “made manual control inputs to the ARB which caused a radial force to be applied to the ARB nozzle, causing it to become bound inside the receiver’s air refueling receptacle.”
As a result, “the bound forces exceeded the structural limitations of the ARB nozzle, damaging the nozzle beyond repair.”
Two other factors “substantially contributed to the mishap,” according to the AIB. The first was “the failure” of the Raptor’s pilot “to account for the KC-46A Stiff Boom characteristics, causing a rapid forward movement” of the fighter relative to the refueler. The stiff boom probem is a long-standing issue, which you can read more about here.
In addition, the boom operator was “unable to verify that the ARB nozzle was clear of [the Raptor’s] air refueling receptacle prior to making ARB control inputs, substantially contributing to the mishap.”
The mishap caused an estimated $103,295.12 in damages, AMC noted.
The Executive Summary of the Nov. 7, 2022 nozzle binding mishap. (USAF AIB)
A third nozzle binding incident took place Aug. 21, 2024, when a KC-46A Pegasus assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and operated by the 931st Air Refueling Wing was refueling an F-15E assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing in support Operation Nobel Eagle, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aerospace warning, control, and defense missions in North America. The aircraft were helping to enforce a temporary flight restriction related to a presidential visit. Then-President Joe Biden was reportedly vacationing in Santa Ynez, California at the time. The tanker and one of the fighters were forced to make emergency landings — the F-15E twice having to abort those recoveries before finally touching down at an alternative location. You can read more about that in our initial report here and listen to the audio below.
Wild ATC audio, a lost tail boom and live missiles turns into quite the story 👀
NOBLE42 (F-15E Mountain Home AFB) had a incident with WIDE12 (Boeing KC-46 17-46028) yesterday near Santa Barbara, California while refueling during a CAP (Combat Air Patrol) which was enforcing a… pic.twitter.com/VkIJJZ1OIT
During the fourth air refueling attempt of the sortie, “the KC-46A experienced nozzle binding of the boom in the F-15E receptacle,” AMC explained. “Upon release, the boom rapidly flew upward, striking the bottom aft portion of the KC-46A, and violently oscillated left and right.”
A KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft connects with an F-15 Strike Eagle test aircraft from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, on Oct. 29th, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt Michael Jackson)
The boom striking the aircraft and “ensuing forceful oscillations resulted in critical failure of the boom shaft structure, portions of which detached from the KC-46A in flight,” the command continued. “The KC-46A crew declared an in-flight emergency and returned to Travis AFB. Emergency response personnel met the crew upon arrival.”
The boom fell in an open field about 13 miles northeast of Santa Maria, California, with no injuries or fatalities reported, the AIB explained.
The boom in the Aug. 21, 2024 mishap was later observed in an open field. (USAF AIB)
The AIB found, “by a preponderance of the evidence, that the cause of the mishap was the [boom operator’s] control inputs to the air refueling flight control system, resulting in an excessive fly-up rate of the boom, which struck the aircraft empennage and caused a critical failure of the boom shaft structure,” according to the report.
There were four other factors that “substantially contributed to the mishap,” the AIB board president ruled.
Excessive closure rate and instability of the Strike Eagle.
The boom operator’s “attempted contact outside the standard [aerial refueling] envelope for the F-15E.
The F-15E pilot’s “failure to recognize and initiate immediate breakaway procedures, which further delayed positive separation from the KC-46A,” and
The boom operator’s “lack of knowledge on boom flight control logic and its effects on the boom flight control surfaces prevented the [boom operator] from recognizing the influence of Flight Control Stick (FCS) inputs and programmed boom limit functions during operations, especially during nozzle binding situations.”
The estimated damages to the aircraft were $14,381,303, according to AMC.
The Auxiliary Power Unit’s shroud was damaged during the Aug. 21, 2024 boom nozzle mishap. (USAF AIB)
The Air Force did not release details about the July 9, 2025 incident. However, at the time, 2nd Lt. Samantha Bostick, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs for the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, told us what happened.
“A KC-46A Pegasus from McConnell Air Force Base declared an In-flight Emergency July 8, while operating over the eastern United States, refueling F-22s,” she said. “The crew had to make the decision to land at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and has landed safely there. The aircraft will remain there for the time being.”
You can listen below as the crew of the KC-46, callsign FELL 81 and serial number 17-46033, alerts the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility at Virginia Capes (FACSFAC VACAPES) about losing the boom. FACSFAC VACAPES is better known by its callsign, Giant Killer, and helps monitor for threats and otherwise manage the airspace off the east coast of the United States.
The nozzle binding issue is clearly a problem in many respects, not just in terms of the dangers posed by booms breaking away or impacting the receiver or the tanker’s airframe, but it also poses a real danger to those on the ground. Beyond that, the reliability of any type during critical missions is always a concern, as such a mishap could curtail a high-priority mission or the risk of it occurring requires extra increasingly precious tankers being assigned to those operations as a contingency. What we don’t know is how common this is in comparison to the KC-135 or the recently retired KC-10. Hopefully, we can get more clarity in this regard now that the findings of these mishaps are published.
People travelling to Turkey have been issued some travel advice(Image: Getty)
The Foreign Office has issued new advice for people travelling to Turkey. New guidance was published regarding swimming and beaches on August 22. The advice is crucial to note if you are heading to the coast as there have been fatal incidents.
The advice says: “Every year, people drown in the sea and in swimming pools in Turkey. Always supervise children, even if they can swim or there is a lifeguard present.”
Families are warned of several dangers when going for a swim in the ocean in Turkey. The guidance says: “Take care when swimming in the sea. Some beaches may have strong undercurrents.
“Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. Do not dive into unknown water. Follow local advice if jellyfish or urchins are present.”
Holidaymakers are also advised that many beaches have a flag system that you may want to look out for. The Foreign Office advises: “Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings (a red flag means you must not enter the water). Follow instructions from lifeguards.
“Take extra care and seek local advice if there are no lifeguards, flags, or signs.” Another rule you may want to note if you are in Turkey is that it’s illegal not to carry some form of photo ID.
The Foreign Office has issued new travel advice for Turkey(Image: Getty)
The Government guidance says: “Always carry your passport or residence permit. In some busy areas, especially Istanbul, the authorities may stop people for ID checks.
“There are also several police checkpoints on main roads across Turkey. Cooperate with officials conducting checks.”
What travel restrictions apply in Turkey?
The Foreign Office advises against any travel to within 10km of the border with Syria. This is due conflict in the area and “a heightened risk of terrorism”.
The guidance explains that most terrorist attacks to date have happened in southeast Turkey, and in Ankara and Istanbul. Visitors are advised: “You should remain aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.”
The advice page includes further information about the risks and restrictions that apply in certain regions of Turkey.
Hillary Clinton has shared her grim prediction on the future of same-sex marriage in the US.
On 15 August, the former Secretary of State stopped by the Raging Moderates podcast to discuss some of the most “pressing challenges of our time”, including Donald Trump’s volatile presidency, the future of democracy in the US and the economy.
In addition to the aforementioned topics, Clinton shared her candid thoughts on the recent petition formally asking the US Supreme Court to overturn the Obergefell v. Hodges rulling.
In 2015, the landmark 5-4 decision legalised same sex marriage in all 50 states.
While some legal experts have expressed doubt that the Court will hear the case, Clinton didn’t share the same sentiment.
“American voters and, to some extent, the American media don’t understand how many years the Republicans have been working in order to get us to this point,” she explained.
“It took 50 years to overturn Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court will hear a case about gay marriage. My prediction is they will do to gay marriage what they did to abortion. They will send it back to the states.”
Clinton went on to encourage LGBTQIA+ couples to consider getting married in the meantime.
“I don’t think they’ll undo existing marriages, but I fear that they will undo the national right. And so fewer than half the states will recognise gay marriage,” she continued.
Elsewhere in her interview, the former First Lady and presidential candidate shed light on the Republican Party’s political game plan regarding the 2026 midterm elections.
“There are going to be real world consequences, but a lot of them are not likely to hit with the velocity and intensity until after the 2026 election. So they’re trying to set it up so that they can win that election and dump all of this other bad news on the American people,” she explained.
“And they’re doing state capture of capitalism. State capture of institutions. The courts are doing their best, but, you know, it’s a slow process. And the Supreme Court gave Trump a big victory when they say no nationwide injunctions to stop allegedly illegal activity.
“So, I think that in an election we have a better fighting chance, but we’re going to be fighting with maybe one or even two hands tied behind us if Texas does what it wants to do, if other states do what Trump tells them to do because they don’t want a fair fight. They don’t want to have a fight about the issues. They want to distract and divert attention away from all of their problems.”
As previously mentioned, former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis – who made headlines in 2015 when she refused to issue marriage licenses to LGBTQIA+ couples – filed a petition in July, urging the US Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.
In the filing, she described the ruling as being “grounded entirely on the legal fiction of substantive due process” and further claimed that it forced her to choose “between her religious beliefs and her job.”
For more information about the petition and expert opinions on whether the Court will hear the case, click here.
Alfie Allen stars as a drug trafficker being chased by the CIA in Sky’s new fast-paced thriller series Atomic, and the actor says his character believes in ‘the power of love’
Alfie Allen and Shazad Latif are on the run in Sky thriller Atomic (Image: Sky TV)
He’s conquered Westeros as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones – now Alfie Allen is embarking on an even more perilous mission.
In Atomic, Sky’s new high-octane thriller, he plays Max, a free-spirited drug trafficker making runs through the Middle East. “He’s a big believer in the power of love and connection between people,” Alfie says.
“But this is interrupted by a crazy stunt that happens in the first 30 seconds of the show.” Thrown into danger from the get-go, Max is ambushed by militants while crossing the Libyan desert – until one spares him.
“The first stunt in the series is a massive car crash, which was actually the first day of shooting for me,” he says. “The car flips over, and that’s where I meet the man I call JJ as he won’t tell me his name.”
Alfie Allen’s Max is ambushed by militants in Atomic
JJ, played by Shazad Latif, is a mysterious figure hiding out in the desert with a warlord. “We meet him just as he’s being chased by a guy called Rab,” Shazad says. “He decides to kick it into gear and make a move. That’s where he meets Max, who’s just had a car crash.”
JJ takes Max hostage, sparking a tense, unpredictable road trip across Libya, Algeria and Beirut. Their trail soon reaches deep-cover CIA agent Cassie Elliott, played by The Handmaid’s Tale star Samira Wiley. “She is a Non-Official Cover (NOC) officer with the CIA,” Samira says.
“Her deep cover job is a professor at the American University of Beirut. She’s been there for about four years. When she is pulled back into the game, she is in pursuit of Max and JJ because they happen to be in possession of the HEU, (Highly Enriched Uranium).”
Samira Wiley plays deep-cover CIA agent Cassie Elliott
Yet JJ’s motives may not be entirely criminal. “JJ is on a journey to reconcile with his complex past, his relationship with faith and his own fate,” Shazad says. “He thinks Max might be a sign of a way out and a way to find a path to redemption.”
The unlikely pairing fuels the series’ tension. “Max is constantly trying to get answers from JJ about who he is, and where he is in his life,” Alfie says. “With Max, you see what you get – JJ is much more secretive and Max is determined to work him out.”
Off-screen, however, there was no hostility between Alfie and Shazad. In fact, the pair managed to bond during filming of Atomic with Alfie showering his co-star with praises.
“Working with Shazad has been amazing,” Alfie says. “We’ve been very, very fortunate to be able to have a buddy journey project where you get along with your co-star.”
Five part series Atomic begins on Sky Showcase and NOW at 9pm on Thursday 28 August.
The alert was issued by the Foreign Office for anyone who is planning a solo trip abroad
FCDO Travel Advice shared the alert on social media (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
For students across the country, A-level results day marked the end of years spent in education. Many celebrate with a group holiday to a sunny destination, while others embark on solo trips. However, before planning a getaway, it’s important to check safety advice for travellers.
The Foreign Office has issued an important alert for anyone travelling alone. It includes advice people need to action before setting off on a trip, and it’s relevant to all ages, though it’s particularly pertinent at this time of year as young people plan backpacking trips and gap years.
Sharing the travel advice on social media, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice wrote: “Solo travelling can be a lot of fun – but if you’re alone abroad, you may need to take extra precautions when traveling. Consider leaving an itinerary with someone at home and agree how regularly you’ll be in contact.”
The post on X also shared a link to GOV.UK, which has more information on how to plan and stay safe when you’re travelling independently. While it’s always important to take precautions before you travel, there are extra steps to consider if you’re solo travelling.
GOV.UK explains: “All travel comes with risk. However, if you travel by yourself (solo travel), independent of a group or organised tour (independent travel), you can face additional challenges.”
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It states that you should take several steps before you travel. One important step is researching your destination, which could include reading guidebooks and online forums or talking to friends or family who have been to the places you wish to visit.
It’s also advised that you read the foreign travel checklist and check the travel advice pages for the countries you plan to visit, where you can sign up for email alerts when the page is updated. These pages include essential advice and cover a wide range of topics.
Additionally, solo travellers should check they have appropriate travel insurance and make a plan with someone at home so that they know the trip itinerary.
Solo travellers were told to take extra precautions (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
The advice explains: “Leave an itinerary with someone at home and agree how regularly you will be in contact. You may also want to leave photocopies of important documents, such as your passport and insurance policy.”
It’s also essential to make a plan in case something goes wrong. This includes knowing the accommodation address in case a host or transfer company fails to show up, and knowing about alternative accommodation options.
GOV.UK adds: “Solo and independent travel can be a rewarding experience. However, it may bring an increased risk of being a victim of crime or other risks to your personal safety. If you are travelling by yourself, without other people or an organised group, consider how you will look after your safety. This is particularly important if you are travelling in a place that’s unfamiliar to you.”
Walt Disney World Resort, Florida is a family favourite, but social influencer Alex Dobson has dropped a video expressing his thoughts on the park – and it’s gone viral in just a day
A ‘real review’ of Walt Disney World, Florida has dropped online, with over 2k likes in less than a day(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
It’s estimated that just under 1 million UK visitors travel to Orlando annually, with 80% of those visiting ‘the most magical place of earth’. However, while Disney World and Disney Land are widely loved by children and held with a fierce nostalgia by many parents (and non-parents), the reality can sometimes prove to be less than dreamy.
What’s more, one viral video recently popped the Mickey-ears shaped bubble with one deft swipe. Alex Dodman is a social influencer with roughly 450,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.
The father-of-three is famous for his ‘real reviews’ of family days out, attractions and holidays, as well as viral trends and cultural events – and now his spotlight is firmly on the Disney resort.
Just under 1 million UK visitors are welcomed to Florida by Minnie and co every year(Image: getty )
Opening the review with a wry, “It’s almost like we’ve been programmed to think that this is the most magical place on earth”, while filming a motorway gantry leading into the theme park that proclaims the very same, Alex boldly claims that “it’s probably the most overpriced tourist p**stakes in history”.
As many a parent who’s been through the Disney World machine will attest to, the resort is not cheap. A Disney World holiday for a family of four from the UK, including flights, can range from around £6,500 to £15,000 or more, depending on the various packages.
And the repeated financial roundhouse kicks are not entirely conducive to a happy holiday between married people, either, with Alex saying it’s likely they’re going to “pretend they’re having a good time posting about it online, when in reality they’ve probably argued about 1,000 times, been on the brink of divorce, and each child has had an overstimulated meltdown every half an hour”.
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According to the influencer: “A ticket to get in here for the day for two adults, two kids and a baby was $709 and because I actually wanted the kids to go on a ride this time, I got some lightning Lane tickets for three rides for an extra $136… How is this even allowed?”
‘Main Street’, the thoroughfare with full view of the Disney Castle, is one to swerve, says Alex.
Not impressed with people that “pretended to cry when they first saw the castle”, he cracked on to the rides – saying that “having some lightning Lane tickets did work well”.
He was less than impressed with the rides themselves, saying the ‘Barnstormer’ “lasted for 25 seconds”, ‘Peter Pan’s Flight’ was “basically pitch black” and ‘It’s a Small World’ was “everyone’s favourite nightmare”.
Main Street, Walt Disney World Resort “feels like every person on the planet stopping to take a photo in front of a pretend Castle”, says Alex (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Conceding that he did understand why “this place is some people’s happy place”, Alex reflected that the ‘trap’ may lie in the fact that Brits have travelled all the way to Orlando.
For that reason, it’s tempting to give in to the cost to embrace a “once in a lifetime” trip. However, he went on to say that: “There’s no way you can enjoy this without having in the back of the mind how utterly screwed you’re being done by Disney”.
Summing up, Alex considered the pay off of such a pricey trip, saying: “Did the kids enjoy it? Yeah. But we also went to Clearwater Beach for the weekend, and they said they had a better time jumping in the sea there, which was free”.
He added: “However you chop it up, it’s way too expensive.”
Alex was baffled by adults that went to Disney World solo (Image: Getty Images)
Comments to the video were mixed, with some wholeheartedly agreeing and others fiercely defending the place that they deeply love.
Many pointed out that Alex’s big mistake was not booking park hopper tickets that make the experience a whole lot more affordable. Doing more research could have helped him to avoid the busiest queues, too.
One follower helpfully supplied: “Yeah, feels like you need so much insider knowledge to not be stung so much with Disney. Park hopper tickets are a better and cheaper option. Staying at Disney property helps for costs with parking for free and dining plans.”
Another person was keen to help too, saying: “Disney World takes a lot of research to do it well and paying for lightning lanes on these type of rides shows you didn’t complete basic training in Disney world trip planning. I think it’s to do with having really little kids too it’s so much fun in the bigger better rides with older kids”.
One poster was relived that they weren’t missing out, saying: “Thank you for blessing us poor who can’t get there that we aren’t depriving our kids and ourselves of the most magical experience on earth”.
And one full-blown fan was clear where her loyalty lay, expressing: “I’m in the Disney cult. Please don’t save me if I blink. They can take my hard earned cash from me so I can walk down that busy street, get tears in my eyes and reminisce of days gone by. “
A key annual United States government report on global human rights abuses has drastically shifted focus, with references removed to abuses based on sexual orientation, and poor conditions downplayed in ally nations while taking aim at those who have clashed with President Donald Trump.
Released on Tuesday, the 2024 State Department Human Rights Report, was issued months late as Trump appointees altered an earlier draft dramatically to bring it in line with America First values, according to government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The report introduced new categories such as “Life”, and “Liberty,” and “Security of the Person.”
The department referred to its new report as “streamlined” and focused on remaining “aligned to the administration’s executive orders”.
While the 2023 report contains a lengthy introduction with numerous appendices and citations, the newest report has a single introductory page that stresses a desire to “minimize the amount of statistical data in the report”. An NPR analysis found individual country reports are, on average, one-third the length of the previous year’s.
Instead, the report sounds an alarm about the erosion of freedom of speech in Europe and ramped up criticism of Brazil and South Africa, both of which Washington has clashed with over a host of issues.
Any criticism of governments for their treatment of LGBTQ rights, which appeared in Biden administration editions of the report, appears to have been omitted.
The report’s section on Israel is much shorter than last year’s edition and contains no mention of the severe humanitarian crisis or death toll in Gaza. Some 61,000 people have died, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, as a result of Israel’s military operations in response to an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in October 2023.
While last year’s report underscored numerous acts of anti-Semitism in Hungary, noting that a local survey found half the population were “moderately or strongly anti-Semitic”, the new report says the close Trump ally has “made combating anti-Semitism a top priority, publicly emphasizing its welcoming and open environment for Jews”.
The report claims “no credible reports of significant human rights abuses” in El Salvador – where Trump has gained help from President Nayib Bukele, whose country is receiving $6m from the US to house migrant deportees in a high-security mega-prison.
Rights group Amnesty International said in a statement that the report “purposefully fail[ed]” to capture rights abuses in a number of countries.
This year’s Human Rights Report from the U.S. State Department reveals a disturbing effort by the Trump administration to purposefully fail to fully capture the alarming and growing attacks on human rights in certain countries around the globe.
This year’s Human Rights Report from the US Department of State shows a visible effort by the Trump administration to purposefully fail to fully capture the alarming and growing attacks on human rights in certain countries around the globe.
On Monday, rights group coalition the Council for Global Equality sued (PDF) the State Department to release report documents, alleging the department had potentially manipulated its latest human rights report.
For decades, the State Department’s congressionally mandated Human Rights Report has been used as a blueprint of reference for global rights advocacy.
This year’s report was prepared following a major revamp of the department, which included the firing of hundreds of people, many from the agency’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which takes the lead in writing the report.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in April, wrote an opinion piece that said the bureau had become a platform for “left-wing activists,” saying the Trump administration would reorient the bureau to focus on “Western values”.
Taking aim at Brazil and South Africa
In Brazil, where the Trump administration has clashed with the government, the State Department found the human rights situation had declined, after the 2023 report found no significant changes. This year’s report took aim at the courts, stating they took action undermining freedom of speech and disproportionately suppressing the speech of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, among others.
Bolsonaro is on trial before the Supreme Court on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has referred to the case as a “witch hunt” and called it grounds for a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods.
In South Africa, whose government the Trump administration has accused of racial discrimination towards Afrikaners, this year’s report said the human rights situation significantly worsened. It stated that “South Africa took a substantially worrying step towards land expropriation of Afrikaners and further abuses against racial minorities in the country.”
In last year’s report, the State Department found no significant changes in the human rights situation in South Africa.
Trump, earlier this year, issued an executive order that called for the US to resettle Afrikaners, describing them as victims of “violence against racially disfavored landowners,” allegations that echoed far-right claims but which have been contested by South Africa’s government.
