Iran has raised concerns about the vulnerability of submarine cables in the Strait of Hormuz, which are crucial for the region’s digital economy. This narrow waterway, known for its importance in global oil shipments, also supports several fibre-optic cables connecting countries from India and Southeast Asia to Europe via the Gulf states and Egypt.
Submarine cables are essential for transmitting data and power, carrying about 99% of the world’s internet traffic. They play a significant role in telecommunications, cloud services, and online communication. Damage to these cables can lead to internet slowdowns, outages, disrupted e-commerce, and delayed financial transactions, causing economic consequences, according to analyst Masha Kotkin.
Gulf countries, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have invested billions into artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure to reduce dependence on oil, with their national AI companies relying heavily on undersea cables for data transfer. Key submarine cables in the Strait of Hormuz include the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1), the FALCON network, and the Gulf Bridge International Cable System, with additional infrastructures being built.
Despite the growth in submarine cable length, faults have remained stable at around 150–200 incidents yearly, largely due to human activities like fishing and anchor dragging, with state-sponsored sabotage being a potential risk. Other threats include undersea currents, earthquakes, and typhoons. To mitigate these risks, the industry has measures such as burying cables and selecting safer routes.
The ongoing Iran war has caused significant disruption to energy supply and regional infrastructure, though subsea cables have not yet suffered damage. However, military operations increase the risk of unintentional damage from ships inadvertently impacting cables. Historical incidents, like one in 2024, highlight these risks.
Repairing damaged cables in conflict areas presents challenges, including obtaining permits and addressing the dangers of remaining fighting or mines. Once conflicts end, another challenge lies in re-evaluating the sea floor to ensure the cables’ safety.
If subsea cables are damaged, there are alternatives like land-based links, but experts warn that satellite systems cannot replace them due to limited capacity and higher costs. Low-Earth-orbit networks like Starlink are not a scalable solution for millions of users at present.
Aside from your plane ticket, your passport is one of the most important documents you need to travel. But Brits need to make sure their passport’s appearance doesn’t put an end to holidays before they even start.
With fuel disruptions and other global events making the thought of holidays a bit stressful, people need to make sure their passports are valid and free of any additional issues that could prevent them from heading to their destination. These could seem minor, but airport security won’t take chances, and Brits could be out of pocket.
Usually, the main concern for people jetting off on holiday is ensuring they have enough valid months left on their passport. However, minor tears and water damage that seem like small issues may render a passport invalid in the eyes of border authorities – regardless of how long it has left to expire.
According to the GOV.UK website, you must replace a damaged passport immediately. This can typically take three weeks, but it can sometimes be longer, with waits of up to six weeks, so anyone with plans coming up soon should act fast.
What kind of damage will make a passport invalid?
The GOV.UK website lists all of the reasons that could render a passport invalid for travel. These include:
when the personal details or observation page are unreadable
laminate peeling or lifting away from the personal details page
unreadable security details
missing or detached pages
where the front, back or personal details page has been cut
damage or discolouration to any part of the passport caused, for example, by water/chemical/ink spills or tears/rips/bite marks
People who have the blue e-Passport may be found invalid for travel if the perforated passport numbers have been torn or the personal details page is torn, damaged, or cracked. People could also be rejected from passport checks if their passport has a chip or antenna that shows through the endpaper on the back cover of a burgundy e-Passport or the personal details page of a blue e-Passport
Damage that does not need an explanation and won’t render a passport invalid for travel includes:
any damage that is not on the personal details or observation pages
any visas, vignettes or immigration stamps are unaffected by the damage (Passport officers must be happy there are no security features or details missing)
any damage or discolouration to the passport cover and blank visa pages is caused by water/chemical/ink spills/tears/rips/burning/bite marks/writing or drawings
To replace a damaged passport, Brits can apply online here to be processed as quickly as possible. It costs £102 for adults, and customers will need a digital photo and a credit/debit card. GOV.UK added: “You’ll need to ask someone to confirm your identity online if you’re replacing a lost or stolen passport.”
People with travel plans that are sooner than the typical three-week turnaround may apply for a fast-track service at a premium cost. This usually results in an appointment at the Passport Office within a week, with documents often being issued the next day.
This express service comes at an added cost compared to the normal wait time and process. It costs £192 for an adult passport (or £206 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).
Passport holders have been urged to change a key phone setting before they arrive at airports to travel. Failing to do so could see them facing delays in queues
Passport holders have been told to change a phone setting (stock image)(Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
We all love jetting off abroad at this time of year, but sometimes making simple mistakes at the airport can lead to risking delays in queues. While many people worry about their clothing, and what they have packed in their cases, something they should actually be paying more attention to is their mobile phones.
Little you may know, using a certain setting can actually lead to people spending more time in queues at security, and delaying their travel journey. Nobody wants to have to face lengthy queues when they start their holiday so an expert has shared some key travel tips to help passport holders out.
You may not realise, but a dim screen is one of the most common reasons boarding passes fail to scan at the gate. Experts say a few simple phone tweaks before you leave home can save serious stress on travel day, and the changes take seconds to complete.
According to William Thackray, IT expert at AGT Computer Services, a dim screen is one of the most frequent and easily avoidable causes of delay at airport security and boarding gates.
He said: “Scanners need a clear, bright image to read a barcode or QR code reliably. In bright airport lighting, a screen that’s sitting at its default brightness – or that’s been dimmed to save battery – can cause a failed scan.
“It sounds trivial, but it holds up the queue and it’s completely avoidable.”
What you need to do
Before you leave the house, drag your screen brightness to maximum. On an iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to access the Control Centre and pull the brightness slider to the top. For Android, swipe down from the top of the screen and do the same.
While you’re at it, William recommends a few other quick changes that can make the whole airport experience smoother. To begin, he said it’s a good idea to screenshot your boarding pass.
Don’t rely on an app that needs a signal or a Wi-Fi connection to load. A screenshot lives on your phone and opens instantly.
He said it’s also a good idea to turn off auto-lock. If your screen goes dark mid-queue, you’ll be unlocking your phone and re-opening your boarding pass with a line of people behind you.
Go to Settings > Display and bump your screen timeout up to at least two to three minutes before you travel. This could make a big difference.
You should also make sure your phone is fully charged. It sounds obvious, but some airports – especially when travelling to the US – can ask you to power up your device at security.
A dead phone can mean real delays, or worse, having your device taken for additional screening. William added: “None of these things take more than a minute to sort before you leave the house.
“But, on a busy travel day, that one minute of prep can be the difference between breezing through and being that person holding everyone up.”
A skincare expert has shared which beauty products are likely to cause problems at airport security due to hand luggage liquid rules – and how to avoid any hold-ups
Certain products can cause delays(Image: PoppyPixels via Getty Images)
With summer getaways fast approaching, countless holidaymakers are gearing up to travel overseas. As skincare continues to surge in popularity, many will be packing their creams and serums – yet skincare specialists are cautioning that transporting these products can prove more complicated than anticipated.
Skincare specialist Rhysa Phommachanh explained: “Many travellers are now packing full skincare routines in their hand luggage, but it can be confusing knowing which products are allowed. As a general rule, if a product can be spread, rubbed, or sprayed, it will usually fall under airport liquid restrictions.”
For instance, numerous skincare products nowadays appear as jellies, balms and sticks.
All of these are classified as liquids by airport security, as are sheet masks and eye patches.
Failing to adhere to airport security regulations could result in travel disruptions or having your belongings seized.
To conserve luggage space, travellers sometimes transfer larger items into smaller containers to meet requirements.
Nevertheless, these unidentified containers can prompt queries at security and trigger manual inspections, which can prove time-consuming.
It’s also probable that any pressurised containers such as facial mists, setting sprays or spray sunscreens will require manual examination and slow down security lines.
It is crucial to familiarise yourself with the regulations at each airport you pass through, as updated liquid rules are gradually being introduced across the country.
Restrictions may vary from one airport to another, so ensure you are fully aware of the specific guidelines before you board your flight.
When it comes to skincare, a minimalist approach often yields the best results.
As reported by the Express, Rhysa said: “A more simplified approach tends to work best for long-haul travel.
“Basic essentials such as lip balm, a lightweight moisturiser, or a facial mist are usually more than enough to maintain hydration without overwhelming the skin barrier.”
“It is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”
ACI Europe backed this up, saying: “If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality.”
Mr Jorgensen added that even if the Strait of Hormuz opened tomorrow, the “price crisis will still last for quite some time”.
It could even be years, he warned, to get down to price levels seen before the crisis.
UK airlines are yet to be affected by the fuel crisis, as many have ‘hedged’ fuel, meaning paying a set fee.
But Airlines UK, which represents a number of carriers, including BA, Virgin, easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair, are now calling on the government for support to protect flights and holidays.
This would include temporary use of fuel type Jet A (not currently allowed in the UK) as well as relaxing the strict airport slot rules that would see airlines lose them if they don’t operate flights.
Easing night flight bans and “relieving the burden of Air Passenger Duty” have also been put forward.
A huge number of airlines have already cancelled flights in response to fears of jet fuel running out.
This includes:
Lufthansa – 20,000 cancelled up to September
United – around 250 a month cancelled
Air New Zealand – around 1,000 cancelled
Scandinavian Airlines – around 1,000 cancelled
KLM – 160 cancelled
Cathay Pacific – two per cent of flights up to June 30
Which airlines have already increased the cost of flights?
Rather than axing routes – other airlines have added surcharges or baggage fees…
Air France and KLM have have increased their round-trip fares by €100 (£87) on most of their long-haul flights– with an additional charge of €10 (£8.69) for a round trip in economy.
Virgin Atlantic confirmed it would do the same earlier this week – passengers in economy will pay an extra £50, in premium economy passengers will pay an extra £180 and anyone in business class will see flights cost an extra £360.
JetBlue has increased baggage fees by $4 (£3) for off peak, economy travellers. This will now be $39 (£30) – the cost peak economy travellers will be $49 (£37).
The low-cost Spanish Airline Volotea is adding maximum surcharge of €14 (£12.20) per person to flight bookings.
For anyone worrying about their holiday, families are better to book package holidays rather than separate flight and hotels, as most packages offer ATOL protection (meaning you will get your money back if your trip is cancelled).
It is also worth checking your travel insurance, although most policies do not cover anything related to war.
Airlines are already cancelling flights and hiking pricesCredit: Alamy
There’s a simple passport and booking mistake that could see holidaymakers pay up to an extra £160 per passenger, just to correct it, or be denied boarding at the airport
10:39, 17 Apr 2026Updated 11:42, 17 Apr 2026
A simple passport mistake could land you with an extra charge, but it’s easily avoided(Image: Getty Images)
An easy passport mistake could see holidaymakers denied boarding at the airport or charged a fee.
Jetting off abroad is always exciting, but there are a few key pre-planning checks everyone should make to ensure a smooth, safe journey. From ensuring the passport is in date, securing valid travel insurance, checking any travel advice on the Foreign Office website, to understanding the country’s entry requirements and the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES).
Then comes the fun part: booking a luxurious hotel or resort, planning a desirable itinerary, finding the best flights, and heading to the airport. Yet, amid the anticipation, there’s a simple mistake with passports and flight bookings that could cause major disruption to anyone’s travel plans, and it’s easily avoidable.
Gavin Lapidus, Company Director at eShores, a UK-based travel agent, warned that a traveller’s name on a passport must match the name on their booking. This can be an issue for shortened or nicknames, name changes, including for those who are married, and any spelling mistakes.
If the name on their booking does not match the passport, holidaymakers could “be denied boarding, experience delays at security or check‑in, or be charged a fee to correct the name”, Gavin exclusively told the Mirror. “Airline policies vary, so it’s important to triple‑check name details before booking.”
The travel expert further advised: “Travellers should never use shortened names, nicknames, or aliases when booking flights. For example, booking under ‘Bob’ instead of ‘Robert’ can result in being denied boarding if it doesn’t match the passport exactly. Always use your full legal name as it appears on your passport to avoid delays or additional fees.”
Gavin also warned about the cost of correcting a spelling mistake. “Minor spelling errors can sometimes be corrected, often for a fee. However, full name changes are usually not allowed,” he explained.
“If you spot an error, contact your airline as soon as possible, as acting quickly improves your chances of having it fixed. Be prepared to show valid identification and expect potential charges.”
For easyJet passengers, they can amend their title or correct spelling mistakes via the airline’s website or mobile app free of charge. However, if anyone needs to change the name on the flight booking, easyJet will charge £60 per passenger per flight when amended online, or £65 with the customer service team.
Meanwhile, Ryanair will charge £115 per passenger for a name change when made online, or £160 through an agent. For Jet2, if a name change is made 15 days before the departure date, it will cost £50, but 14 days or less will set a passenger back £150.
For Brits who are married but have not yet changed their maiden name on their passport, Gavin further advised: “If a traveller has recently married, the name on the booking must still match the name shown on the passport. There is no legal obligation to change your surname immediately after marriage.
“If your passport is still in your maiden name, you can continue to travel using it until it expires, as long as your flight booking is made in the same name. You can update your passport at any time using your marriage certificate.”
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
The airline responded to a passenger who asked for an update on upcoming flights
TUI posted the update in a social media message (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
TUI has shared a message to passengers worried about possible ‘fuel shortages’. The travel company issued advice on social media, responding to a customer with concerns.
The update comes as experts have warned Europe could face jet fuel shortages if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened in the coming weeks. Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, the trade body for European airports, previously said: “At this stage, we understand that if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.
“The fact that we are entering the peak summer season… is only adding to those concerns.” On Thursday, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned Europe has “maybe six weeks of jet fuel left”.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has also said disruption could begin in May. He previously told Sky News: “Fuel suppliers are constantly looking at the market.
“We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated.”
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In response to the developments, a TUI passenger contacted the airline on X to ask if it could share an update for any flights booked after May 1. The social media user wrote: “TUIUK, with the reported jet fuel shortages, are you expecting holidays from May 1st to be affected?”
Replying to the message on April 16, a customer service team member answered on behalf of the airline. She wrote: “Hey, we’re closely monitoring the developing situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on global aviation fuel supplies.
“At present, we’re not anticipating any immediate disruption to our flight schedules or holiday programmes from fuel shortages.”
Other airlines have faced similar questions from passengers. In an X post shared with easyJet Holidays last week, a customer asked: “How concerned should we be that, given the potential aviation fuel shortages from end May, that our July flights Gatwick Bordeaux will be cancelled? Do you have surety of supply from Canada for example?”
In a response on April 10, an employee told the passenger they would be notified if any changes were made to the booking. easyJet Holidays said: “Hi there, thanks for reaching out. We do appreciate your concerns.
“Please be assured, we are monitoring the situation closely and if there were to be any changes to your booking at all, our dedicated pre-travel team would be in touch to advise on your options.”
British travellers planning trips abroad must check their passports at least three weeks before departure
Failing to check your passport ahead of time could result in an expensive fee(Image: Getty)
Brits heading abroad should carefully check their passports at least three weeks before they travel. Missing certain critical problems could land you with a £239 bill.
Travellers must make sure their passports are valid and in good condition before they set foot on a plane. Any problems could see you turned away at the gate.
To sort this out, your passport will need to be replaced straight away, and putting this off could prove costly as standard passport renewals can take up to three weeks.
Following a price rise earlier this month, a standard passport will set you back £102. However, if you’ve left a passport problem until just days before your trip, you’ll be forced to shell out £239.50 for the one-day express service.
GOV.UK warns: “If your passport is damaged you must replace it. You may not be able to travel with it.”
The HM Passport Office will consider a passport damaged if:
You cannot read any of your details
Any of the pages are torn, cut or missing
There are holes, cuts or tears in the cover
The cover is detaching
There are stains on the pages (for example, ink or water damage)
Regarding your passport’s expiry date, the requirements will differ depending on where you’re headed. Some countries insist on at least six months remaining on your passport upon arrival, while others only require three.
For a full breakdown of passport requirements by country, visit the Government website here.
Applying for a passport online
To apply online, head to the Government website here. Key requirements include a digital photograph, a valid payment method (credit or debit card), and your existing passport if you’re renewing.
Furthermore, applicants must supply proof of their identity and citizenship. The application fee for adults stands at £102, while children’s passports are priced at £66.50.
For anyone requiring assistance with the online application, local Post Office branches provide support services. Their staff are able to:
Take your digital photo
Help with completing the online application
Be mindful that this service carries an extra charge.
Postal applications
Paper passport applications are available from your local Post Office. Keep in mind that postal applications generally take longer to process than online ones.
They’re also more expensive than online applications, setting you back £115.50. You’ll be required to submit a completed application form alongside your supporting documents, two photographs, and the relevant fee.
Post Office staff can assist in making sure your form is properly completed – though you’ll need to supply your own photos. Payment can be made using cash, debit or credit cards.
Fast-track applications
If the standard three-week processing period is cutting it too close with your holiday plans, several quicker options are available for securing a passport. According to the Government website: “You can pay to get a passport urgently if you think the standard service will take too long.”
To take advantage of these fast-track services, you’ll need to secure an appointment at a passport office:
The same-day premium service carries a charge of £239.50 (or £253.50 for the 54-page frequent traveller passport)
The one-week express service costs £192 for an adult passport (or £206 for the 54-page frequent traveller passport), and £156.50 for a child’s passport (or £170.50 for the 54-page version)
For further information, visit the Government website here.
It’s crucial to be well prepared before heading to the airport on holiday, and there’s one mistake to avoid, otherwise face forking out an extra £55 per person at the airport
There’s a key mistake to avoid before jetting off abroad (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
There’s a common check-in mistake that could see Brits charged an extra £55 per person at the airport.
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to jetting off abroad; from finding the right sun-soaked destination, the most affordable flights, suitable accommodation, and a desirable itinerary. Inbetween the planning and excitement, there are also some vital pre-holiday preparations that are needed.
Whether that’s obtaining travel insurance, securing a visa, checking passport validity, arranging a lift or taxi to the airport, packing the suitcases, or booking a dog or house sitter. But during any pre-trip planning, there’s a key task that holidaymakers can miss, and it will cost extra with Ryanair.
While travellers will have their flight details to hand, often via the airline app or an email, some forget to check in online. For holidaymakers flying with Ryanair, they will be charged £55 per person to check in at the airport, when they could have checked in online for free.
For a family of four, this could see them fork out a whopping £220 before their getaway even begins. It’s a mistake and an extra cost that can easily be avoided by checking into their flight when it opens online.
Ryanair passengers with a pre-reserved seat, which are usually at an extra cost, can check in online up to 60 days before their scheduled departure. Meanwhile, those without a reserved seat, which is free, can check in online 24 hours before their flight, and can often choose a seat for free if one is available.
To check in online with Ryanair, travellers must have a valid travel document, such as a passport or National Identity Card. The airline confirmed that they “do not accept a driver’s license or birth certificates for travel to any location” and advised that there are different rules for various destinations, so Brits should check these before travelling.
For anyone who doesn’t check in online, Ryanair warned: “If you do not check in online up to 2 hours before your scheduled departure time, you may check in at the airport up to 40 minutes before departure, but you will be charged an airport check-in fee.”
They added: “We urge all passengers to check in online before arriving at the airport so these fees can be avoided.”
In further information about checking in at the airport, Ryanair stated: “You will have to pay an airport check-in fee per passenger to cover the extra cost of the airport check-in service. Please see our Table of Fees.”
On the Ryanair website, they further outlined: “If you checked in but cannot present your boarding pass on the app when you arrive at the airport, you will receive a free of charge boarding pass.”
They also added: “Please note: All passengers departing from a Moroccan airport must check-in online as normal and then collect a free of charge boarding pass at the airport check-in desk.”
For more information or to check Ryanair’s details, visit their website.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
The airline has shared advice for customers with concerns about upcoming bookings
Holidaymakers are looking ahead to the summer (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
easyJet Holidays has shared a message to passengers with concerns over upcoming bookings. Ahead of the summer holidays, experts have warned Europe could face jet fuel shortages if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened within three weeks.
Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, the trade body for European airports, said: “At this stage, we understand that if the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU. The fact that we are entering the peak summer season… is only adding to those concerns.”
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has also warned disruption could begin in May. He previously told Sky News: “Fuel suppliers are constantly looking at the market.
“We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated.
“We think there is a reasonable risk, some low level, maybe 10% to 25% of our supplies might be at risk through May and June, so like everyone else in this industry, we hope the war ends sooner rather than later. If the war finishes by April and the Strait of Hormuz reopens, then there is almost no risk to supply.”
In response to recent developments, an easyJet Holidays customer asked the package holiday provider if their upcoming flight could be affected. Reaching out to EasyJetholidays on X, the customer said: “How concerned should we be that, given the potential aviation fuel shortages from end May, that our July flights Gatwick Bordeaux will be cancelled? Do you have surety of supply from Canada for example?”
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In a message on April 10, an employee told the passenger they would be notified if any changes were made to the booking. In the X post, easyJetholidays said: “Hi there, thanks for reaching out. We do appreciate your concerns.
“Please be assured, we are monitoring the situation closely and if there were to be any changes to your booking at all, our dedicated pre-travel team would be in touch to advise on your options.”
In other easyJet news, passengers have been advised that they will miss their flights if they are late arriving at their departure gate. The airline clarified its policy when a social media user contacted EasyJet after spending an hour in a passport control queue, which threatened to make them late for their departure gate.
On X, a user wrote: “EasyJet, we have 20 mins left until our flight from Palermo to London takes off, been in finger print queue for an hour now and moved three steps. They let LOADS of BA people through before us who are leaving 10 mins before our flight, and now we’re even more delayed. What will happen?”
In response, a member of the customer service team named Thando, on April 8, explained: “Hi Kez, thank you for reaching out. Please note that the boarding gate closes a minute before departure. After it closes, you will not be able to board and will miss your flight.”
People are being urged to check theirs as soon as possible before peak season
13:20, 12 Apr 2026Updated 13:31, 12 Apr 2026
More than 1.2 million are due to expire in 2026 (stock image)(Image: Getty)
An alert has been issued by money specialists, as an important document is expected to expire for millions of people in the UK this year. It is raising concerns that large numbers of British travellers could be caught out just as the holiday season reaches its peak.
More than 1.2 million UK Global Health Insurance Cards (GHICs) are due to expire in 2026. Nearly 800,000 are expected to run out during the peak summer holiday months of July to September, according to new Freedom of Information data accessed by PayingTooMuch, a travel insurance comparison site.
The NHS says a GHIC lets you get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA) and in some other countries on the same basis as a resident of those countries. This may be free, or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay.
On the NHS website, it states: “A UK GHIC is free and lasts for up to five years. Apply for your new card through the NHS website. Avoid unofficial websites – they may charge you a fee to apply. The UK GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. We advise you to have private travel and medical insurance for the duration of your trip.”
The FOI sent to NHS Business Services Authority also highlights a significant rise in expiring cards this summer. The data shows that more than 290,000 GHICs are due to run out in August alone, coinciding with the busiest period for overseas travel.
In response, a money specialist warns that thousands of travellers could unknowingly head abroad with expired GHICs this summer. While this is a small detail often missed amid holiday planning, it’s one that could lead to serious consequences.
Hannah Mayfield (DipFA), founder of What Is Wealth, says the sheer volume of 2026 expiries could leave many people caught out. She said: “If you fall ill or face a medical emergency, discovering too late that your GHIC is no longer valid only adds stress at the worst possible moment.
“With such a high number of GHICs expiring this year, particularly during the busy summer holiday period, it’s vital that travellers check their card well in advance. It is an easy detail to overlook, but one that could leave you seriously exposed once you are already overseas.”
Mayfield warns that the risks do not stop at travelling with an expired card. The FOI data also shows how expensive medical treatment abroad can become, even when state support is accessible. The highest GHIC/EHIC claim last year exceeded £340,000, while the second highest topped £226,000.
“That is the part many travellers may not fully realise,” explains Mayfield. “While a GHIC can help to access basic state-provided healthcare, it is not designed to cover the full range of issues travellers commonly encounter – from private treatment costs if needed to flight cancellations, lost bags or emergency repatriation to bring you home.”
A GHIC is accepted in most EU countries, plus a few additional countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements. It can reduce your medical costs abroad if you need treatment, but it doesn’t make treatment completely free or cover everything.
You might still have to pay for your treatment upfront and buy prescriptions, which you can then claim back through your travel insurance. If you use your GHIC to pay medical fees abroad and make a medical claim through your travel insurance, some providers waive the policy excess on the medical claim, ultimately saving you money.
Mayfield reminds holidaymakers that travel insurance is an essential part of holiday planning, as a good policy provides protection in areas that the GHIC does not. When choosing a policy, she advises checking that cancellation cover matches the full cost of your holiday and ensuring it is tailored to your health needs, destination, and excursions. Comparing travel insurance is a good way to find cover that suits you and the type of trip you are taking, especially if you have with pre-existing health conditions.”
With so many GHICs expiring this year, experts recommend travellers check their card and travel insurance at the same time they book the trip. Renewing early is particularly important if your card expires within six months of your trip, as leaving it too late can lead to complications if treatment is needed overseas.
“You can apply for a free GHIC directly from the official UK government website. All family members should have one in their name. You’ll need your UK address and some basic personal details and usually it will arrive within 7-10 working days.
“Be wary of bogus sites asking you to pay for a GHIC as you don’t need to, they are free,” she adds. Mayfield urges travellers to “check their GHIC now, don’t wait until the airport to discover it has expired.”
The FCDO has all the latest travel warnings listed online, advising against all travel to multiple countries
10:08, 12 Apr 2026Updated 10:18, 12 Apr 2026
An FCDO warning can affect your travel insurance(Image: Getty )
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides regularly updated travel guidance for British nationals heading abroad. It’s vital to check the latest FCDO advice before your trip, as it could affect your holiday plans and travel insurance.
Choosing to travel against FCDO warnings can invalidate your travel insurance. You may also find that consular assistance is severely limited should you face an emergency. On its travel advice page, the government agency says: “No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide.”
To safeguard British nationals travelling overseas for work or pleasure, the FCDO provides up-to-date travel advice for every country worldwide. It’s essential to consult this guidance before every journey.
Should the FCDO consider a situation dangerous, it may advise against all travel or only non-essential travel to a particular country or specific regions within it. Alongside travel warnings, the FCDO provides useful information, including entry requirements, crime statistics, local laws and customs, and details regarding any forthcoming strikes or industrial action that could disrupt your holiday.
It’s important to be aware that if the FCDO issues a warning against all travel or all but essential travel to your chosen destination before your departure, your travel insurance is unlikely to provide cover. Consequently, any claims you make will in all probability be rejected.
Travel insurance is designed to safeguard you against unexpected and unforeseen risks. However, heading to a destination that the FCDO has declared dangerous carries a considerably greater risk than jetting off to a generally regarded safe country.
Should the FCDO issue a warning while you are already in an affected region, you will remain covered under the medical and personal accident sections of your travel insurance policy. However, this is provided you comply with the latest FCDO guidance for British nationals in that area.
While most travel insurance policies do not cover trips taken against official advice, there are a handful of exceptions. These particular policies were originally designed to protect individuals travelling to high-risk areas for professional reasons, such as journalists and aid workers. But, they are increasingly being taken up by leisure travellers keen to press ahead with their plans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Political instability, natural disasters, and safety concerns are among the factors that can prompt an FCDO warning. The FCDO has issued numerous travel advisories, advising against “all travel” and “all but essential travel” to certain nations or regions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
Of the 226 countries featured on the FCDO’s travel advice page, certain destinations are currently marked as ‘do not travel’ zones owing to various concerns that ‘can not guarantee safety’, including security threats, health risks, and legal differences from Britain. Your travel insurance may be rendered invalid if you travel contrary to FCDO guidance concerning the following nations, as of April 2026.
Afghanistan
The FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan, saying: “Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the FCDO.” The government agency says the security situation is volatile and tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have previously resulted in violent clashes in border regions.
It adds: “Travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous and a number of border crossings are not currently open. There is a heightened risk of British nationals being detained in Afghanistan. If you are a British national and you are detained in Afghanistan, you could face months or years of imprisonment. FCDO’s ability to help you is extremely limited and support in person is not possible in Afghanistan. For more details about the risks in Afghanistan, see Safety and security.”
Belarus
FCDO advises against all travel to Belarus. You face a significant risk of arrest if you have at any time engaged in any activity now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime. There is also a low risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to Belarus. Find out more about why FCDO advises against all travel.
Burkina Faso
FCDO advises against all travel to Burkina Faso. This is due to the threat of terrorist attacks and terrorist kidnappings, and the unstable political situation in the country.
It explains: “There is no British Embassy in Burkina Faso and all consular support is provided from the British Embassy in Accra, Ghana. They cannot provide in-person assistance. If there is serious violence, unrest or a deterioration in the security situation, it could be difficult to leave safely.
“Do not rely on the British government to evacuate you as they may not be able to do so. Have your own plans on how you would leave the country, make sure you keep all travel documentation up to date and monitor the local situation.”
Haiti
The FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti owing to the unstable security situation. There are presently no British consular officials in Haiti and the capacity to provide consular assistance is severely restricted and cannot be delivered in person in Haiti. British nationals may receive consular services assistance at our diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic.
The government agency says: “If you choose to travel to or stay in Haiti against FCDO advice, try to avoid all crowds and public events, and take appropriate security precautions.”
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Iran
FCDO advises against all travel to Iran. It says: “If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying. British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention.
“Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.” British nationals should:
read if you’re affected by a crisis abroad. This includes guidance on ‘how to prepare for a crisis’ with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and ‘what to do in a crisis’
sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
monitor local and international media for the latest information
stay away from areas around security or military facilities
keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date
if you are advised to take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection
Mali
FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions. The FCDO says if you’re in Mali, you should leave immediately by commercial flight if you judge it safe to do so.
It explains: “The international airport in Bamako is open, and commercial flights are available. Do not try to leave Mali by overland routes to neighbouring countries, as this is too dangerous. This is due to terrorist attacks along national highways. Terrorist group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) has implemented blockades on key routes throughout Southern and Western Mali, including the capital city of Bamako.
“These blockades are targeting fuel trucks and are enforcing checkpoints for individuals attempting to pass through them. Attacks can occur at any time. There is a high threat of kidnapping and criminal activity across Mali, including in the capital, Bamako. If you choose to remain in Mali, you do so at your own risk. You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government. If you are a British national already in Mali, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying.”
Niger
FCDO advises against all travel to Niger. This is due to the rise of reported terrorist and criminal kidnappings of foreign nationals, which have taken place this year in Niger.
There is an ongoing risk of terrorist attacks throughout Niger, including in the capital, Niamey. The political situation remains unstable following the July 2023 military coup. Further instability is possible.
Russia
FCDO advises against all travel to Russia due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine, including:
security incidents, such as drone attacks, and Russian air defence activity
lack of flights to return to the UK
limited ability for the UK government to provide support
There is an increased risk of British nationals being detained in Russia, including if the Russian authorities suspect you of engaging in or supporting activities against Russian law, even if the activities took place outside Russia.
Russia has a track record of targeting foreign nationals and holding them in detention as leverage over other countries. FCDO’s ability to assist you in these circumstances is extremely limited. There is also a high likelihood that terrorists will try to carry out attacks, including in major cities
South Sudan
The FCDO strongly advises against all travel to South Sudan owing to the threat of armed violence and criminal activity. The political and security situation remains unpredictable. Political tensions are high, and the security situation across the country could deteriorate rapidly and unpredictably.
If the unstable security situation deteriorates, routes into and out of South Sudan may be blocked. Juba airport may close or be inaccessible. Flights may be cancelled at short notice. Regional developments may also affect international transport. For example, in 2019 and 2023, events in Sudan caused South Sudan’s airspace to close temporarily. Consular assistance to British nationals is severely limited in South Sudan. In-person consular assistance is not available.
Syria
FCDO advises against all travel to Syria due to unpredictable security conditions and the threat of terrorist attacks. Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. British nationals should:
read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”
follow advice from the local authorities and sign up to receive information and alerts
sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
monitor local and international media for the latest information
stay away from areas around security or military facilities
keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date
if you are advised to take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection
Yemen
FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of Yemen due to the unpredictable security conditions. If you’re in Yemen, you should leave immediately.
It says: “Support for British people is severely limited in Yemen. British Embassy services in Sana’a are suspended, and all diplomatic and consular staff have been withdrawn. The UK government cannot help British nationals leaving Yemen. There are no evacuation procedures in place.
“FCDO cannot offer advice on the safety of travelling to any potential departure point. The UK government’s ability to help with onward travel is severely limited and you’ll be expected to cover the cost of visas, accommodation, insurance and onward travel yourself. If you choose to remain in Yemen, you should minimise movement around the country and within cities and towns, monitor developments in the local security situation and follow other precautions in this travel advice.”
If you’re a British national in Yemen and need help from the UK government, you can call FCDO on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours).
A major change to how Brits travel to popular holiday hotspots will come into effect from Friday, 10 April, and it’s vital to make a key passport check ahead of this date
Brits are being urged to check their passports before Friday(Image: Getty Images)
British passport holders have been urged to make one key check before a major change comes into effect on Friday, or they could face a hefty holiday fee.
From Friday, 10 April 2026, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to be fully rolled out. This digital border system, which began on 12 October 2025, is a new requirement for Brits travelling to the Schengen area.
The countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The EES system is not required for travel into the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus.
The new system means that when entering the Schengen area for short stays, British citizens may need to register their biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photograph, which is carried out at the border upon arrival free of charge. While holidaymakers do not need to do anything before arriving at the border, they must be aware of the vital passport requirements before the EES system is fully operational from Friday.
The government states that the passport must:
Have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
Have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)
If your passport doesn’t meet the requirements above, you risk being denied entry to the country and turned away at the airport. This means you could end up forking out for an additional flight back to the UK from the Schengen area you are unable to enter, while losing out on your holiday altogether.
Therefore, it’s crucial to check that your passport is valid, and if not, renew or replace it as soon as possible. You can renew or replace your passport through the government website, with the process typically taking around three weeks, though it may take longer during peak travel season.
The rollout of the new EES system comes shortly after the price of UK passports is set to increase. The current price of a standard 34-page adult passport, when applied online, costs £94.50, while a standard child’s passport costs £61.50.
However, from Wednesday, 8 April, the price of a standard adult’s passport will increase to £102, while a child’s passport will cost £66.50. Passport applications by post will rise from £107 to £115.50 for an adult, and from £74 to £80 for a child’s.
On the passport price increase, the Home Office said: “The new fees will help the Home Office to continue to move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.
“The government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.” For more information or to renew or replace your passport, visit the government website.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
SACRAMENTO — Strong majorities of California voters believe American democracy is under attack and, in the wake of U.S. Supreme Court rulings narrowing federal protections, support enacting a new state Voting Rights Act to prohibit discrimination and efforts to suppress the ability to cast a ballot, a new poll showed.
The survey showed a sharp partisan divide over increasing voting rights protections, with Democrats and political independents overwhelmingly in favor and a majority of Republicans opposed. Fears that American democracy was either under attack, or at the very least being “tested,” were shared across political allegiances, according to a new poll released Thursday by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies.
“I think that it suggests that the California voters, especially Democrats and independents, are very worried about some of what they’ve seen going on in Washington, both the court decisions and the Trump administration,” said Eric Schickler, the institute’s co-director. “They see it as threatening kind of core American values.”
That anxiety comes after years of baseless claims by President Trump that the 2020 election was stolen from him, as well as Republican-led efforts to restrict the use of mail-in ballots and impose new requirements for voters to show identification and proof of citizenship.
Trump earlier this week signed an executive order to place new federal controls on voting by mail in states such as California, an action that Democrats called unconstitutional and vowed to challenge in court.
Schickler said Republican concerns about the fate of American democracy may stem in large part from allegations about voter fraud hyped by Trump and his supporters, including unfounded claims that droves of undocumented immigrants are swaying elections.
The survey found that 67% of California voters believe American democracy is under attack, including 84% of Democrats, 40% of Republicans and 64% of voters registered as “no party preference” or with other political parties. An almost equal number of Republicans, 38%, believed democracy was being “tested” but not under attack, compared with 13% of Democrats and 26% of independents. The remainder of those surveyed said American democracy is in no danger.
The partisan divide was more pronounced when voters were asked if they wanted California to enact its own Voting Rights Act after decisions by the Supreme Court limited federal protections against discrimination and unequal access to ballots, the poll found.
Overall, 66% of California registered voters backed adopting new state voter protections, with 88% of Democrats supporting new laws compared with 25% of Republicans and 66% of voters who are political independents or belong to other parties. Support for new state laws was strongest among Black voters — 72% — who historically have been targeted with discriminatory voting policies, including Jim Crow-era laws such as literacy tests and poll taxes.
The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned those policies, ensuring that the right to vote cannot be denied because of race. The law also ensured that Black Americans and other communities of color had the opportunity to participate in all parts of the political system and elect the leaders of their choosing, influencing how political districts are drawn. The act was reauthorized by Congress in 2006 by an overwhelming bipartisan majority.
“Now it has come to the point where the president has tried to convince people that somehow equal voting rights is bad, because, in his words, ‘The wrong people are voting right,’” said Matt Barreto, faculty director of the UCLA Voting Rights Project, referring to Trump. “You have super majorities, very large percentages of Californians, who want the state to do more to protect voting rights, I think, because of the very tenuous climate right now, with the president constantly going after states for vote by mail and trying to get their voter rolls and these other sorts of things.”
Recent rulings by the conservative-leaning Supreme Court also have rolled back federal protections under the Voting Rights Act. A pending case, Louisiana vs. Callais, which involves the drawing of congressional districts, may overturn some of the remaining protections, Barreto said.
“I think people should be extremely nervous this court has not shown a lot of support for voting rights, and that’s the reason why California has an opportunity to pass its own state laws,” he said.
Among the laws California legislators could adopt, Barreto said, would be protections for early voting, banning onerous requirements on voters to prove citizenship and provide identification, and ensuring that congressional and other political districts are created to allow minority groups to elect representatives of their choice.
The Berkeley poll also found widespread support among California voters for requiring that the top three financial backers supporting and opposing ballot measures be listed in official ballot voter guides. A majority of Californians also supported expanding access to translation and interpreter assistance for populations that make up at least 5% or 5,000 voters in a county.
The Berkeley IGS poll surveyed 5,109 California registered voters online in English and Spanish from March 9 to 15. The results are estimated to have a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points in either direction in the overall sample, and larger numbers for subgroups.
Funding for the poll was provided to IGS by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, a private foundation based in San Francisco that aims to increase civic participation and improve the state’s democratic processes.
WASHINGTON — President Trump is threatening to deploy ground troops to seize critical oil infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island, a military gambit that experts say would risk American lives and could still fail to end the war.
If Trump wants to hobble Iran’s oil industry for leverage in negotiations, a better option might be setting up a blockade at sea against ships that have filled up at Kharg Island’s oil terminals, the experts said.
The island — located on the other side of the Persian Gulf from U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — is the beating heart of Iran’s oil industry, through which 90% of its exports pass. It is important because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for tanker ships to dock.
“Putting people on the ground might be the most psychologically compelling way of striking a blow at Iran,” said Michael Eisenstadt, a former U.S. military analyst who now directs the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
“On the other hand, you’re putting your own troops at jeopardy,” said Eisenstadt, a retired Army reserve officer who served in Iraq. “It’s not far from the mainland. So they can potentially rain a lot of destruction on the island, if they’re willing to inflict damage on their own infrastructure.”
Seizing Kharg Island could escalate the conflict, said Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies.
He said Iran and its proxies — including Yemen’s Houthi rebels — could intensify their retaliation, including by laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz or striking targets with drones across the Arabian Peninsula, from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea.
Commodities researchers and investment banks warn major retaliation could have lasting implications for energy prices and the global economy.
“It will be hard to take. It will be hard to hold,” Citrinowicz said of Kharg Island. “And it might damage the economy, but not in a way that will force the Iranians to capitulate.”
Trump says ‘maybe we take Kharg Island’
Trump is under growing pressure to end the monthlong conflict with Iran, which has attacked U.S. bases and allies in the region.
Iran also has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows, causing fuel prices to soar and other economic tumult.
Trump said in a social media post Monday that “great progress is being made” in talks with Iran to end military operations. But he said that if a deal is not reached “shortly” and the strait is not immediately reopened, the U.S. would obliterate power plants, oil wells, Kharg Island and possibly even desalination plants.
Trump has raised the idea of American forces seizing Kharg Island.
“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Trump told the Financial Times. “It would also mean we had to be there (on Kharg Island) for a while.”
Asked about Iranian defenses there, he said: “I don’t think they have any defense. We could take it very easily.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that ground troops would not be needed to achieve the Trump administration’s goals. He did not repeat that assertion Monday after being asked about plans for U.S. ground troops, saying “the president has several options at his disposal” but diplomacy is Trump’s preference.
“Now, they are making threats about controlling the Hormuz Strait in perpetuity, creating a tolling system and the like,” Rubio told ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “That’s not going to be allowed to happen. And the president has a number of options available to him, if he so chooses, to prevent that from happening.”
U.S. has hit targets on the island crucial to Iran
The U.S. has already struck various targets on the island, including air defenses, a radar site, the airport and a hovercraft base, according to satellite analysis by the Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project.
Petras Katinas, an energy researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, said disrupting Kharg Island would not completely halt oil exports as Iran has other small ports. But it would reduce the oil revenue flowing to Iran’s government, “forcing flows through a much smaller, costlier and less efficient export system,” he said.
However, Tehran has too much at stake to surrender over a single asset, no matter how economically significant, said Citrinowicz, the Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies.
While occupying Kharg might offer Washington some leverage in any negotiations, he said the notion that control of the island could be traded for Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was far-fetched.
“It’s in no way a decisive blow,” Citrinowicz said.
U.S. troops face risk from Iran’s mainland if they tried to seize Kharg Island
A U.S. Navy ship carrying about 2,500 Marines recently arrived in the Middle East, while at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected soon. Another 2,500 Marines are being deployed from California. The Trump administration has not said what all those troops will be doing, but the 82nd Airborne is trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields.
One of the reasons American troops would be vulnerable on Kharg Island is its close proximity — about 33 kilometers (21 miles) — to the Iranian mainland, from which missiles, drones and artillery could be fired. Despite continued U.S. and Israeli strikes, the Islamic Republic is still attacking targets across the region, including a Saudi air base hundreds of miles away where more than two dozen American troops were injured last week.
Even with American ships and planes providing support, there would still be a relatively short window of time to shoot down every drone or missile launched from the mainland at the island, Eisenstadt said.
“The coast tends to be mountainous, so the drones can come in through mountain passes where it’s hard for our radar to pick up,” he said. “And we don’t have the warning time.”
Eisenstadt says a sea blockade against ships carrying Iranian oil would be a safer strategy and achieve the same goal of controlling most of Iran’s oil industry.
“Throw up a quarantine that seeks to seize Iranian oil shipments that are exiting the Gulf,” agreed Clayton Seigle, an energy security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It could be done at a distance “outside the range of the lion’s share of Iran’s weapon systems.”
Seigle argued against destroying Kharg Island’s oil infrastructure, which Trump also suggested.
“We were supposed to be coming to the rescue of the people that had been rising up and protesting for a better future,” Seigle said. “So to cripple Iran’s revenue-generating potential for many years to come would definitely not work in that direction.”
Finley and Metz write for the Associated Press. Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank.
The Houthis in Yemen have launched their first attacks on Israel, opening a new front in the month-long regional war. Al Jazeera’s Virginia Pietromarchi explains why the move could raise new risks for oil shipping, and civilians in Yemen.
A woman passes by property prices displayed at a realtor’s office in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
March 20 (Asia Today) —This commentary is the Asia Today Editor’s Op-Ed.
With Seoul apartment values posting their biggest increase in five years, concerns are growing that a heavier property tax burden will spill into the Jeonse and monthly rental markets. Jeonse is a unique Korean housing lease system where tenants pay a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent, and get it back at the end of the lease.
Landlords are already showing signs of passing higher holding costs on to tenants through steeper rents and larger Jeonse deposits. If the government now moves to raise taxes further, including on single-home owners whose properties are deemed non-residential, it risks worsening instability in the rental market.
According to the Korea Real Estate Board, Seoul apartment Jeonse prices rose for a 57th straight week as of the second week of March, with the cumulative increase reaching 4.79%. Monthly rents climbed even faster. In February, the average monthly rent for an apartment in Seoul stood at 1.515 million won, or about $1,010, up 12.5% from a year earlier.
The sales market, by contrast, has cooled. Apartment prices in Seoul’s three Gangnam districts and Yongsan-gu have fallen for four consecutive weeks. But the Jeonse and monthly rental markets are becoming more unstable as new apartment supply shrinks and listings for existing units tighten. The shortage has been aggravated by the reinstatement in May of a capital gains tax surcharge on owners of multiple homes.
Against that backdrop, higher officially assessed home values are likely to add even more upward pressure on rents. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said this year’s official values for multifamily housing in Seoul rose 18.67% from a year earlier. That was the third-largest increase on record, behind only 2007 and 2021, both periods of sharp home-price gains.
In the three Gangnam districts and the Mapo-Yongsan-Seongdong area, where assessed values climbed more than 20%, many homeowners could see property tax bills rise by more than 50%. Even without a revision to tax law, the annual burden can increase by as much as 50%. Once local education taxes and the rural special tax are included, the actual increase can be even greater.
The number of single-home owners subject to the comprehensive real estate tax also rose sharply. Homes assessed above 1.2 billion won, or about $800,000, now total 487,362, up 170,000 from a year earlier.
For many elderly homeowners living on national pension payments, interest income or dividends, annual property taxes running from several million won to tens of millions of won can be difficult to absorb. Assessed values are also used to calculate regional health insurance premiums and can affect existing pension burdens, making the overall impact even heavier.
South Korea has already seen what happens when landlords shift tax costs onto tenants. During the previous progressive administration, rising tax burdens contributed to sharp increases in monthly rents and Jeonse deposits. Past data show that when the property tax rate rises by 1 percentage point, about 30% of the additional burden is passed on through Jeonse deposits and roughly 40% to 50% through monthly rent.
Even so, the government is considering higher property taxes or smaller long-term holding deductions to curb what it calls high-value single-home investments used for non-residential purposes. But real estate taxation can have broad collateral effects. If efforts to suppress housing prices go too far, tenants may once again end up paying the price.
The government should scrap any reckless plan to raise property tax rates on single-home owners.
Experts have urged holidaymakers to make this check before jetting off
12:57, 21 Mar 2026Updated 12:57, 21 Mar 2026
If you fail to check this before your holiday, your travel insurance could be invalidated(Image: Getty)
Brits planning a getaway have been warned to check one crucial detail beforehand or risk potentially losing hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Neglecting to do so could leave your travel insurance worthless, meaning you’d be left out of pocket should anything go wrong.
The team at Travel Health Pro stressed that travellers must always keep abreast of guidance regarding their destination from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). You should “keep checking” during the “days and weeks leading up to your trip” to ensure you don’t miss anything.
This guidance will inform you whether there are any present dangers associated with your chosen location. These could stem from severe weather conditions, criminal activity, political instability, conflict, or terrorism threats.
Occasionally, the advice may be severe enough to recommend not travelling altogether, whilst in other instances it might suggest steering clear of particular regions or remaining vigilant about certain circumstances. Travel Health Pro stated: “Planning to travel abroad?
“Before you book your trip, check Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) foreign travel advice for information on safety and security at your destination. Remember to keep checking FCDO advice in the days or weeks leading up to your trip too, as circumstances can change very quickly.” The guidance elaborated on the meaning of these warnings: “If the FCDO think the risk of travel is unacceptably high, they will formally advise British people against ‘all but essential travel’ or ‘all travel’ to a particular country or region.
“The ‘warnings and insurance’ section of each FCDO country advice page lists all the areas (if appropriate) to which this applies. You can also receive FCDO email alerts about specific countries by signing up through a link on the FCDO country page for your destination.”
Neglecting to carry out this verification and venturing to a high-risk destination could result in your insurance policy becoming void. This could mean you’re left out of pocket for hundreds or even thousands of pounds if something goes wrong and your trip is cancelled or cut short.
Travel Health Pro warned: “Remember – your foreign travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. If you travel, remember to check FCDO travel advice regularly, as situations can change quickly.”
Nations with an FCDO warning currently active
At the time of publication, numerous countries are currently subject to an FCDO travel warning. These include:
Afghanistan
Belarus
Burkina Faso
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Mali
Niger
Russia
South Sudan
Syria
Ukraine
Yemen
The complete list of foreign travel advice for countries can be viewed online here.
CALGARY, Alberta — With wildfire season underway, three Alberta electric utilities are working together to deliver the safe, reliable electricity that Albertans depend on.
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The Government of Alberta’s recently released Alberta Wildfire Mitigation Strategy highlights the important role utilities play when it comes to wildfire mitigation. As wildfires become more frequent and severe, the owners and operators of the electric transmission and distribution networks in Alberta’s highest-risk areas – AltaLink, ATCO Energy Systems and FortisAlberta – have formed the Alberta Wildfire Utility Coalition. The Coalition is aligning efforts to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen system resilience.
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The Alberta Wildfire Utility Coalition is committed to reducing wildfire risk associated with utility systems and to ensuring effective preparedness and response when wildfire events occur. The Coalition’s work is guided by four priorities: prevention, resilience, collaboration and response.
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Proactive actions to reduce risk and ensure public safety
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Each utility has wildfire mitigation plans grounded in data and informed by evolving industry standards and best practices. Through the Coalition, utilities are working collaboratively to standardize wildfire mitigation approaches that emphasize public safety, wildfire prevention, resilience, collaboration and responsible investment.
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Common wildfire mitigation activities include strengthening and upgrading assets, enhancing vegetation management near power lines, increasing inspections in higher‑risk areas, protecting assets with fire-resistant materials, and using advanced weather monitoring and other technologies to improve situational awareness and support proactive operational actions to protect communities and keep people safe.
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One component of a comprehensive utility wildfire mitigation plan is a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), used as a last resort to keep people and communities safe. During extreme conditions where a single spark could ignite a fire, a utility may proactively shut off power to impacted power lines until conditions improve and it is safe to restore service.
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Enhancing resilience through collaborative emergency preparedness and response
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Effective communication and coordination before, during and after emergencies are critical to strengthening response and resilience. The Alberta Wildfire Utility Coalition is focused on enhancing emergency preparedness through ongoing engagement with industry partners, government agencies, emergency services and community leaders to support coordinated action and clear communication during wildfire events.
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How Albertans can prepare for wildfire season and stay informed
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As wildfire season begins, the Alberta Wildfire Utility Coalition encourages Albertans to stay informed, understand the potential impacts of wildfires and power outages, and take steps to prepare for emergencies:
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Create an emergency plan that accounts for potential power outages and evacuations
Gather a 72-hour emergency kit with essential supplies
Ensure a backup power plan is in place for medical devices that require electricity
Ensure your electricity retailer has your updated contact information to receive alerts
Follow your utilities on social media for real-time updates
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“Wildfire risk is a growing challenge, one that no single utility can address on its own. By working together through the Alberta Wildfire Utility Coalition, we are sharing best practices, aligning our approaches and advocating for reasonable and consistent industry standards to ensure that electric utilities can take effective steps to protect against wildfire risk for the benefit of Albertans.”
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Gary Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer, AltaLink
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“Electric utilities play an important role in reducing wildfire risk, but we also need to be prepared to act decisively when conditions become extreme. Through this Coalition, we’re coordinating our operational practices, learning from events here and in other jurisdictions, and working closely with communities and first responders to support safe and effective wildfire response.”
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Jason Sharpe, Chief Operating Officer, ATCO Energy Systems
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Alberta’s electric utilities have effectively managed wildfire-related risks for decades, helping to provide peace of mind to the communities they serve. As our operating environments continue to evolve, utilities must remain focused on making carefully considered investments in infrastructure and technology that will help reduce the overall risk of wildfire ignitions; an outcome that will benefit all Albertans. The Coalition is pleased to contribute to, and help guide, discussions with stakeholders on this important topic.
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Janine Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer, FortisAlberta
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About AltaLink
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Headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, AltaLink is Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider, with approximately 13,400 kilometres of transmission lines and more than 310 substations. AltaLink is partnering with its customers to provide innovative solutions to meet the province’s demand for safe, reliable and affordable energy.
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About ATCO Energy Systems
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ATCO Energy Systems builds, operates and maintains electric and gas transmission and distribution networks, serving over 1.6 million customers across Canada. We’re modernizing our grids, investing in new infrastructure to meet the growing needs of our customers and partnering with Indigenous communities to support reconciliation and prosperity. As energy needs evolve, we remain committed to safe, reliable, and sustainable solutions—working with communities to deliver long-term value.
THERE could be trouble ahead for those who have booked holidays to far-flung destinations as airlines are warning of even more flight cancellations.
The rising price and shortage of jet fuel caused by the Iran crisis means airlines may be forced to axe longer journeys.
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Certain airlines have already announced axing of flightsCredit: AlamyScandinavian Airlines System said it would be cancelling 1,000 flightsCredit: Alamy
Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the price of jet fuel has risen sharply from $90 (£67) per barrel to as much as $200 (£150) per barrel – with oil traders now also expecting a shortage of it in the coming weeks.
As a result, there’s a rising risk of airlines cancelling services especially to long-haul destinations.
This is because airlines heading to far-flung places may not have enough fuel for the return journey.
The Times reported that the problem could even go on until summer quoting an industry source that said it could “take up to six months to get back to normal” – which sees us through to August.
The airline will see roughly a five per cent reduction in its services which works out to around 1,100 flights.
Following suit, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) announced that it would be cancelling 1,000 flights.
Certain countries, like Vietnam have now warned that flights could be cancelled from April, affecting the Easter break.
Meanwhile, China and Thailand have halted exports of fuel to maintain their own supplies – which in turn will affect airlines operating in other countries.
Closer to home, Brits could be affected as some of its jet fuel is imported from the likes of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
International Air Transport Association said that “Europe is among the most exposed, with 25–30 per cent of its jet fuel demand originating from the Persian Gulf.”
Meanwhile, Watson Farley & Williams, the energy, infrastructure and transport law firm, said: “If airports and airlines’ stocks of fuel are depleted for any length of time, airlines will cease to be able to fuel their aircraft and will have to reduce their operations.
“This may have far-reaching consequences.”
This implies that there could be a knock-on effect for airlines later on, too.
It added that “further flight cancellations can be expected, even by airlines operating from home bases where there is a reliable supply of fuel.”
Certain UK airlines are less affected for now because they have secured some of their fuel at a fixed price for a certain amount of time.
A deaf 6-year-old boy snatched by immigration agents from Northern California and deported to Colombia this month needs to be returned to the U.S. immediately or he could die, a lawyer representing the child said Wednesday.
Attorney Nikolas De Bremaeker said the boy, Joseph Lodano Rodriguez, was “at risk every day that he is not getting his treatments.” The child has a cochlear implant that requires the same routine maintenance and cleaning he was receiving stateside but may not get in Colombia.
“Joseph is at immense risk for his life if he does not continue the treatment that he was receiving in the United States,” De Bremaeker said at a virtual news conference hosted by California Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
“He is at risk of infection, he is at risk of meningitis, he is at risk of death if he is not given the proper care for his surgical implants.”
Joseph, his 28-year-old mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, and another son, 5, were detained by federal agents on March 3 while attending an immigration meeting and deported shortly after.
Rodriguez Gutierrez traveled to the United States in 2022 seeking asylum from domestic violence and lived in Hayward. She was told in the run up to the March 3 meeting that she needed to bring her two children for a routine check-in to update the photos Immigration and Customs Enforcement had of them.
Shortly after arriving, ICE agents “tried to force her to sign a document without explanation, and then pushed the family into a vehicle to be put on a flight to a faraway detention facility, “ De Bremaeker told The Times earlier.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions sent Wednesday after office hours but has consistently said that Rodriguez Gutierrez was “an illegal alien from Colombia” who “illegally entered the United States in 2022.”
She was issued a removal order on Nov. 25, 2024, according to DHS.
Thurmond, the superintendent, called on the public to lobby Congress and the Trump administration “to return Joseph so he can continue his studies.”
Thurmond showed a 40-second clip of Joseph and his family at a Colombian facility for the deaf.
The child appeared to struggle communicating with his sibling and mother, while his brother repeatedly tried to give directions to him in Spanish with little avail.
Joseph’s only language is American Sign Language, Thurmond said. Joseph was studying at the state-funded Fremont’s California School for the Deaf.
“Joseph is struggling,” Thurmond said. “He does not have the ability to communicate with anyone and in many ways, he can barely communicate with his mom. Like Joseph’s mom, Lesly was just beginning to learn American Sign Language.”
Both California senators — Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff — along with state Democratic congressional members Eric Swalwell, Nanette Barragán, Zoe Lofgren, Kevin Mullin and Lateefah Simon called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to investigate the deportation.
The group is also calling on both government agencies to return the family to the U.S. through the process of humanitarian parole. That move would allow Joseph to re-enroll in school and receive specialized care.
Celena Ponce, founder of Hands United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding deaf immigrant children and families, said her group was trying to connect the family with the deaf community and services, like interpreters, in Colombia.
She said, however, that Joseph and his family face several challenges. The first hurdle if he ends up staying in Colombia, is that he and his mother will have to learn Colombian sign language, which differs from American sign language.
Ponce added that Joseph also suffered language deprivation, meaning he is delayed in comparison to other 6-year-olds who are hearing.
“Because Colombia does not have residential schools similar to what California has, the ability to be fully immersed in language is not present,” she said.
Whatever gains he made at the California School for the Deaf would likely end, she said.
Times staff writers Clara Harter and Christopher Buchanan contributed to this report.
Some viewers have dubbed the new documentary a ‘wake up call’
Samantha King Content Editor
18:25, 18 Mar 2026
The documentary only arrived on Netflix on Monday (March 16)(Image: Netflix)
A brand new documentary just added to Netflix has been dubbed a “wake up call” by terrified viewers.
The Plastic Detox arrived on the streaming service just this week, exploring the impact of exposure to everyday plastic items such as clothing fibres, cosmetics and kitchen tools on human health and fertility.
The feature-length film centres around six couples who are all trying for a baby. They all have one thing in common: they have been unable to conceive, with some of the pairs having spent years trying unsuccessfully to make it happen.
They are tasked with lowering their exposure to plastics over the course of three months supported by scientists and researchers to see if doing so can turn their fortunes around.
Netflix’s official synopsis reads: “Strange symptoms. Unexplained infertility. Human extinction? Six couples cut back on plastics while trying to conceive in this absorbing documentary.” The film is directed by Louie Psihoyos who was behind 2024 Netflix documentary, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.
Viewers have been quick to flood social media with their first thoughts about the documentary, with one warning fellow viewers: “I was not prepared to be so enraged and also disgusted. So many chemicals. In everything. All the time. Just watch at your own risk.”
A second said: “Everyone needs to watch this. It’s a wake-up call,” as a third remarked: “I just made the grave mistake of watching The Plastic Detox on Netflix and that was a mistake. I mean, it wasn’t, but it was. I would not recommend if you’re a spiraller… because, wow.”
Environmental and reproductive epidemiologist Dr Shanna Swan who appears in the documentary, told Netflix’s Tudum: “I think it empowers people to know that they can do things to protect themselves, at least if not completely, to a large extent.
“And that’s what the film really shows — when these couples took action and reduced their exposure, they saw differences.”
At time of writing, it has been revealed that three of the six couples that took part in the experiment have since gone on to become pregnant. One of the couples, Monique and Bruno, are actually expecting their second baby at the end of this month.
As well as seeing a difference in fertility, the couple shared that they had seen a huge impact in their overall health too. They shared with Tudum: “We sleep better, our skin is less dry, and Bruno’s extreme eczema has decreased considerably.”
The Plastic Detox is now available to stream on Netflix.
