Travel news

Russia is feared to be embarking on a "deliberate policy" of disrupting food supplies. Western officials have said that Vladimir Putin is "weaponising" global reserves by stealing grain and destroying agricultural equipment as part of his war in Ukraine. The Kremlin is believed to be dismantling infrastructure needed for food production and blocking ports that are vital in shipping cereals out of the country, which is known as the breadbasket of Europe. The Russian army has destroyed silos and other food production infrastructure in cities such as Kherson, Luhansk and Donetsk, according to sources. As economics reporter Tom Rees writes, the UN estimates that 1.7 billion people in more than 100 countries are being affected by the current surge in food, energy and commodity prices – raising the prospect of starvation in developing countries . Official figures revealed yesterday that grocery bills in the UK rose at their fastest pace for more than a decade in April, helping … [Read more...] about Thursday morning news briefing: Russia turns screw on global food supplies

An outbreak of monkeypox in Spain has been linked to a super-spreader event at a sauna in Madrid. Enrique Ruiz Escudero, the region’s health chief, told reporters on Friday that most of the country’s 30 cases have been traced back to a single venue in the capital. The UK confirmed 11 new cases of monkeypox on Friday, more than doubling the total to 20. Globally, 127 cases have been reported in 11 countries, according to John Brownstein, professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School in the US, who is keeping track of cases. The UK Health Security Agency has said a notable proportion of recent cases here and in Europe have been found in men who self-identified as gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men Portugal detected a further nine cases on Friday, taking its total to 23. The previous 14 were all found in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. In Belgium, three cases have also been linked to a fetish festival in Antwerp, The Telegraph … [Read more...] about Monkeypox outbreak linked to super-spreader event at adult sauna

Parents are taking out almost £2m in loans each year to fund their children’s spending habits, the latest research has found, with parents supporting their children until the age of 29. Turning 18 may have once symbolised the beginning of adulthood, but the journey to financial independence is lengthier and more costly than parents may have ever bargained for. A study by Sainsbury’s Bank reveals that while a quarter of UK parents hope they won’t have to fund their offspring much past their early 20s, fathers are likely to cut the purse strings on their children up to three years earlier than mothers. Paying for everything from significant birthdays to gap year travel plans, half of those who took out a loan to support their children last year put the money towards a wedding, with the average value standing at more than £12,000. Other popular reasons were education, including university fees, costs and trip expenses, with an average value of £13,000; loans for children’s … [Read more...] about Parents should expect to pay their kids’ bills for 30 years

A bombshell hearing this week added weight to theories that aliens exist as US officials blew the lid off encounters with UFOs. The Pentagon revealed there had been 400 UFO sightings recorded when quizzed by US Congress. During the public hearing, the first of its kind in 50 years, two senior defence officials, Ronald Moultrie and Scott Bray, talked through several encounters with "unidentified aerial phenomena" - aka flying saucers. Last year, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence outlined progress made by its Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force in a preliminary report to Congress. The hearing also came five months after a "National Defense Authorization Act" required the US military to establish a permanent office that would gather and look into UAPs. That Act also stated there should be an annual report and semi-annual briefings for Congress on UAPs. But can UAPs or UFOs really be out there? Some pilots' accounts of encounters with flying saucers … [Read more...] about Pilots’ most convincing accounts of UFO encounters after US Congress hearing bombshells

If you had to leave your home and all your worldly belongings in an instant to run for your life, as thousands of Ukrainians have, what would you grab? Money, your passport, some spare clothes? For many Ukrainian families, the one thing they could not leave behind was their pets. Pictures have emerged of refugees carrying cats, dogs and birds as they rush to safety . But those animals that were abandoned roam the streets in search of food and love. One of these much-loved pets found me, while I was reporting in Ukraine, and I could not leave that dog behind. This is my story of how I came back from war with a friend for life, one who helped me cope with the reality of a warzone. Before I left Islington for Ukraine, I could have never imagined the experience. The stories of destruction I found are so devastating that I struggle to comprehend how this is happening in the 21st century. Genocide. War crimes. Invasion. Yet, when entering Ukraine back in February, … [Read more...] about ‘I went to war – and came back with a dog’

House flies: How to repel insects from the home How to keep your lawn lush, borders beautiful and more with our FREE email SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info During the hotter summer months, often Britons open their windows to let in some fresh air - but this could also let in flies. Flies manage to get inside for a number of reasons, but most enter to feed on rubbish, ripe fruit and veg or moisture. Common house flies are attracted to decaying organic filth such as rotting meat, whereas fruit flies look for sugary substances and feed more commonly on overripe fruit, spilt fizzy drinks and alcohol. Drain flies require moist climates and organic materials and will be attracted to drains like kitchen sinks, where they will also lay … [Read more...] about ‘Instantly deters flies’: ‘Great way’ to banish flies from homes – they ‘hate the smell’

Richard Dinan on the future of space travel Sign up HERE for science breakthroughs in health, business and more that matter SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Richard Dinan is the visionary entrepreneur who wants to help humans leave Earth and inhabit other planets in the Milky Way. And he wants to do it fast. His company, Pulsar Fusion , is betting on harnessing the power of nuclear in space to cut the time it takes to get to Mars in half – and unlock the secrets beyond our Solar System. Related articles Nuclear fusion breakthrough takes world one step closer to star energy NASA missions halted after astronaut almost DROWNS Speaking exclusively to Science Digest , the former Made In Chelsea … [Read more...] about Fusion rocket breakthrough to allow humans to LEAVE Solar System and ‘claim own planets’

Carole Middleton and son James arrive at Will and Kate's wedding Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top royal stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Kate Middleton’s parents Carole and Michael have been married for over 41 years. Carole and Michael Middleton married on June 21, 1980 at the Church of St James in Dorney, Buckinghamshire. But what did Carole’s engagement ring look like? Related articles Avoid keeping milk in door compartment of fridge to save hundreds Shoppers can save £250 a year by swapping 6 branded items The Duchess of Cambridge's mother has been spotted many times wearing her stunning engagement ring. The jewellery piece is not dissimilar to her … [Read more...] about Carole Middleton’s £200k Asscher-cut diamond engagement ring is ‘top quality’ like Pippa’s

Camilla Parker-Bowles is an 'asset to Britain' says Lee Cohen Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top royal stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Tartan is a popular print worn regularly by many members of the Royal Family , from Kate Middleton to Princess Anne. However, it seems that Camilla wears the pattern more often than anyone, opting to wear the same outfits on many occasions over a short period of time. Related articles Cleaning: How to keep bath towels soft - ‘cheap and amazing’ way Queen’s favourite sandwich she's had ‘for every afternoon tea’ Express.co.uk spoke to personal stylist and fashion expert Samantha Harman about the Duchess’ sartorial choices. She said: “As … [Read more...] about Camilla’s clothes represent ‘marriage between 4 nations’ – ‘important’ when she is Queen

Strictly’s Shirley Ballas films her partner singing and playing guitar Sign up for FREE for the latest news from the world of showbiz SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Shirley Ballas , 61, took to social media to praise her long-time boyfriend Danny Taylor, 48, who she called “her everything” in a series of adorable Instagram posts. The Strictly Come Dancing judge mysteriously referred to a “wedding” while updating her fans, adding that she “couldn’t wait to share” some news with all of them. Related articles Donny Osmond’s wife made him sleep alone after Dancing With The Stars Minnie Driver ‘not friends’ with ex Matt Damon years after split Shirley shared a series of updates … [Read more...] about ‘He’s my everything’ Shirley Ballas gushes over boyfriend Danny Taylor in ‘wedding’ post