Mahmood to ban migrants without citizenship from claiming benefits

Migrants could only be eligible for benefits and social housing once they become British citizens and those in the country illegally could have to wait up to 30 years for long-term residency in the UK under new plans announced by the home secretary.

Shabana Mahmood has unveiled a shake-up to rules for legal migration aimed at reducing the number of people coming to the UK, just days after announcing reforms to the asylum system, telling the Commons that settlement in the UK is a “privilege, not a right”.

The shake-up will see the government move towards a new “contribution-based model”, with mandatory conditions for people applying for “earned” settlement.

These include having a clean criminal record, paying National Insurance for the last three years, speaking English at A-level standard, and having no debt to the government.

The default qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will also be increased from the current five years to ten years, with different groups to be ‘penalised’ or ‘rewarded’ with longer or shorter qualifying periods depending on their “contribution”.

The qualifying period will be reduced to nine years if someone can speak English to degree level, five years if they pay the higher rate of tax. Migrants who pay the top rate of tax or are on a global talent visa will have to wait three years – shorter than it is now – to qualify.

Those working in public services at a certain level, for example doctors and teachers, will qualify in five years, while people who volunteer will have their qualifying periods reduced by three to five years.

On the other hand, people who claimed benefits for less than 12 months will have a five year penalty, and those who have claimed for over 12 months will face a ten year penalty.

If someone came via an illegal route, they could face a penalty of up to 20 years – meaning it could be 30 years after their arrival until they are qualified to apply for ILR.

The so-called ‘Boris-wave’ cohort will have a 15 year default qualifying period for ILR. This means the longest someone from this cohort could be waiting is 25 years if they have also claimed benefits for more than 12 months.

The ‘Boris-wave’ is a term used to describe the steep increase in migration to the UK from outside the EU in the wake of Brexit, when Boris Johnson was prime minister.

Current forecasts show 1.6 million are due to settle in the UK between 2026 and 2030, with a peak of 450,000 in 2028, Ms Mahmood told the Commons

Despite the crackdown, the home secretary also addressed those “who believe that migration is part of modern Britain’s story”, saying: “We must prove that it can still work”.

Insisting that she “sees the benefits of migration”, Ms Mahmood said: “I wouldn’t be here if this country hadn’t welcomed my parents”, she told the Commons. “It is literally the story of my life… so I very much feel those benefits personally and I will always speak up for them as I have done today.”

While the home secretary said that migration “will always be a vital part of Britain’s story”, she warned that the “scale of arrivals in recent years has been unprecedented”.

She said: “To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege. And it must be earned.

“I am replacing a broken immigration system with one that prioritises contribution, integration and respect for the British sense of fair play.”

The home secretary reiterated that changes to indefinite leave to remain will not impact those with settled status – marking a break from Reform UK’s pledge to retrospectively strip people of indefinite leave to remain.

Ms Mahmood said: “May I make one thing absolutely clear though: we will not change the rules for those with settled status today. These are people who have been in our country for years, even decades. They have families here, wives, husbands, children.

“They have worked in our hospitals, taught in our schools and have been contributing to our society for years. Fairness is the most fundamental of British values. We made a promise when we gave them settlement and we do not break our promises.”

She added: “For those who believe that migration is part of modern Britain’s story, and should always continue to be, we must prove that it can still work.

“That those who come here contribute, play their part and enrich our national life. While each will always retain something of who they were and where they came from, they become a part of the greatest multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy in the world.”

Can we stop applauding stars like Meghan for posing makeup-free?

Meghan Markle’s latest move? Posing on the cover of the American edition of fashion mag Harper’s Bazaar. As far as high-end cover shoots go, it’s pretty minimalist, with the Duchess of Sussex perched on a stool in front of a grey background, dressed in a black Dior jacket with her hair swept back from her face.

And it’s her face – or, more pressingly, what’s on or not on her face – that has got people talking. Because, in keeping with this pared-back aesthetic, Meghan appears to be pretty much makeup-free, skin, brows that are sculpted-but-not-too-sculpted and a smattering of freckles. I should add, of course, for accuracy’s sake, that Harper’s has credited the veteran makeup artist Diane Kendal for the shoot, so it’s probably not the case that the Duchess just rolled out of bed beforehand, but the overall feel is natural and low-key.

There’s no denying that Meghan looks incredible, and that her fresh face nicely complements the clean lines of the understated outfits she’s been styled in. But what can’t help but needle me is the way that this cover – and the many, many celebrities that have followed a similar formula – are using going makeup-free as a sort of shorthand for honesty, relatability and (my personal bugbear) bravery. You can practically visualise the words “authentic” and “real” pinned on the mood board beforehand.

Indeed, when the actor Jamie Lee Curtis hailed Pamela Anderson’s decision to go makeup-free on the red carpet as an act of “courage and rebellion” in 2023, I couldn’t help but cringe. Anderson is, objectively, one of the most beautiful women in the world; if she doesn’t want to wear makeup, that’s great, but let’s not act like seeing her bare face is suddenly going to make women everywhere feel better about themselves.

Over the past couple of decades, the “makeup-free” magazine cover has become a way for stars to signal that, hey, they have flaws, too! In her latest interview with Bazaar, Meghan attempts to position herself as the poster woman for embracing imperfections. “There’s no such thing as perfect,” she reminds us, before noting that “I, too, get to make mistakes”, and that “there’s also not a lot of fun in trying to be perfect”.

Her truisms would possibly carry more weight if she hadn’t spent most of the past year trying to sell all of us a lifestyle that seems, to the casual observer at least, pretty perfect: the Loro Piana knitwear, the Nancy Meyers movie-worthy kitchen, the homemade jam. Sure, said flaws might be barely perceptible with the naked eye, but that doesn’t matter. They’re actually just like you! Showing off glowing skin and perfect bone structure has been reframed as some sort of radical act that is somehow supposed to empower the rest of us.

And as the media landscape has changed, we’ve been introduced to more opportunities for celebrities to supposedly defy the norm by eschewing foundation and mascara. Earlier this year, Meghan went makeup-free for her podcast interview with friend Jamie Kern Lima. “She and I decided to do the episode the same way we spend most of our time together – with no makeup on, in our sweats, and cosied up in these two rocking chairs I have at my house,” Lima gushed as she introduced the recording. The implication, of course, was that by swerving cosmetics, their chat was somehow more real and unfiltered.

But barefaced shoots (and their close relation, the makeup-free Instagram selfie) aren’t really relatable. They have just become another way to force actual average women to compare themselves to unrealistic standards. What feels most egregious, though, is when these objectively beautiful images are positioned as somehow imperfect, and when we are supposed to believe that posing for them is some kind of act that benefits us all. If this is imperfect and raw, where the hell do the rest of us civilian goblins sit on this aesthetic scale?

Photos like these are humblebrags, packaged up as empowerment, and I’m not convinced that they’re helping anyone. Plus, making it matter so much seems to reinforce regressive old ideas about a woman’s looks being indicative of her character.

Is my distrust of the makeup-free cover shoot tinged with a bit of jealousy? Of course it is! I’m writing this with a face full of spot stickers that I’m praying will do some overtime on yet another adult acne flare-up. When you have bad skin, sometimes just leaving the house covered in foundation can feel pretty brave; hiding away seems like a preferable option.

A genuinely “brave” move would be for a celebrity with acne, rosacea or another skin issue (statistically, at least, there must be some of them) to pose without makeup. But that would never happen, because properly stripped back, imperfect skin is still something that we baulk at. You only have to look at the cruel jibes that the 17-year-old Scottish footballer Skye Stout received earlier this year when her new club shared a photo of her with – the horror, the horror – visible spots to mark her signing (grown adults mocking a teenager for her skin? Yes, really).

Bare female faces are only acceptable when they are radiant, blemish-free free and largely ageless, much like Meghan’s. So, can we please acknowledge that going makeup-free is about branding, not bravery?

UK to be hit by ‘thundersnow’ as cold snap closes schools

The Met Office has warned that some parts of the country could see “thundersnow” as an amber weather warning comes into force.

Hundreds of schools have been forced to close, roads are disrupted and homes left without power because of snow, after most parts of the UK recorded the coldest night of the season.

About 100 schools have closed in northern Scotland on Thursday, while in Wales, 36 are closed in Pembrokeshire, 14 in Carmarthenshire and seven in Ceredigion.

In North Yorkshire, 33 schools are closed, while eight are listed as fully closed in East Yorkshire.

The weather service said “thundersnow” – where thunderstorms form in wintry conditions and cause heavy downpours of snow – was seen in Aberdeenshire and off the coast in the north-east on Wednesday.

A spokesman said: “There is a risk we could see more today off the coast of eastern Scotland and north-east England.”

The forecaster also warned that rural communities could be cut off as gusty winds hit, creating “occasional blizzard conditions”, with the possibility of lightning a further hazard.

Temperatures in Northern Ireland, England and Wales fell to their coldest of the season so far, with minus 6.6C recorded at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, minus 6.4C in Sennybridge in Powys and minus 2.8C at Altnahinch Filters in Co Antrim.

Scotland’s lowest temperature recorded overnight on Wednesday was minus 6.4C in Dundreggan, Inverness.

Up to 25cm of snow is expected to settle on high ground, particularly across the North York Moors as the forecaster warned some could face significant travel disruption and potential power cuts.

A number of warnings have been issued for snow and ice across the UK for Thursday after sleet and snow showers continued to batter UK coastal areas overnight, with the cold weather expected to continue until the weekend.

Parts of Yorkshire including York and Scarborough are subject to an amber weather warning from 5am to 9pm on Thursday. Multiple Met Office yellow warnings for ice and snow have also been issued for the coming days, covering Northern Ireland, parts of Wales, northern and south-westerly parts of England and much of Scotland.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst: “Thursday will be a sunny day for most, but there will be further sleet and snow showers for coastal stretches which will filter a little inland too. Heavy across north-east England in particular.

“The highest snowfall totals from Wednesday night through Thursday will likely be across the Sperrins, North Yorkshire Moors, Northwest Highlands, Grampians and upland Pembrokeshire.”

Cold Arctic air continues to take hold across the country, with the mercury overnight dropping to as low as -6C at Spadeadam in Cumbria.

But the coldest temperatures could still be ahead, the Met Office warned, with potential for lows of -12C in areas of lying snow in Scotland on Friday.

The BBC reports that in addition to the snowfall, some areas could see “thundersnow”, where thunderstorms form in wintry weather.

Areas including London, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Essex, Shropshire and Northumberland saw snow on Wednesday, with Met Office weather stations in Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales, recording 7cm of lying snow at 8am.

Motorists faced tricky conditions across the North East on Wednesday night, with North Yorkshire Police urging drivers to avoid the A171 near Whitby where a number of vehicles became stuck because of the snow.

Officers also closed the A169 between Whitby and Pickering amid heavy snow.

Shaun Jones, AA Expert Patrol, said: “When snow and ice hit, the roads can quickly become treacherous. Stopping distances can increase tenfold on icy surfaces, so slowing down and leaving plenty of space is absolutely vital.

“Drivers should plan ahead, stick to main routes and allow extra time for their journey.”

Wintry showers will hit East Anglia, western Wales and Cornwall overnight but persisting snow in the North East could cause “substantial disruption”, the Met Office said.

National Rail urged rail commuters to check their journeys before travelling during the snowy and icy weather.

It said speed restrictions may be in place for trains to run safely, which could result in cancellations, alterations and delays to services.

Temperatures will begin to rise closer to averages for this time of year at the weekend when wetter and windier weather arrives, but it will not be as “exceptionally mild” as it was earlier in November, the forecaster said.

‘Dangerous’ sexual predator David Carrick jailed for life for further abuse offences

Serial sex offender and former police officer David Carrick has been handed his 37th life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years for molesting a 12-year-old girl and raping a former partner.

Carrick, 50, was convicted on Wednesday of a “horrific” pattern of offending spanning 30 years. The trial at the Old Bailey heard how his “aggressive and violent” behaviour “escalated” after he abused the girl in the 1980s, going on to subject a woman “degrading and humiliating abuse” more than 20 years later.

The ex-Metropolitan Police officer is already serving 36 life sentences with a minimum term of 32 years after he admitted a string of sex offences against 12 women in February 2023. Following his conviction, the two victims at the centre of the second case came forward to police to accuse Carrick of further sex offences.

On Wednesday, Carrick was found guilty at the Old Bailey of five charges of sexual assault on the child and two charges of rape, one of sexual assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards the former partner.

Sentencing, Mrs Justice McGowan recognised the “courage and resilience” of the victims and said she had “no doubt” Carrick is “dangerous”.

During the trial, jurors had heard how Carrick abused a young girl for around 18 months before she told her mother what was going on.

He confessed in a letter which was recovered from his medical records and signed “Dave”. In it, Carrick wrote that the girl was “not crazy” and that it was “true” but that he had stopped about four months ago.

He wrote: “I know how (the girl) must feel. That’s why I stopped and promised I would never go near her again and I have kept that promise and I always will.”

In a police interview, the now-grown up victim described the young Carrick as “very sly” and “manipulative”.

After she told her mother about the abuse, the matter was “brushed under the carpet like it was nothing”, she said.

Giving evidence in court, she told jurors: “When I heard he was a Metropolitan Police officer, the words I have always used were: ‘God help anyone with him with a warrant card’.”

The second victim met Carrick through a dating website and was aware from the start he was a police officer. She went on to form a relationship with him, and told jurors he had appeared “charming, witty, sarcastic” and like “everyone’s best friend”.

But during their relationship, he became controlling and raped her on multiple occasions.

The court heard that she had been left traumatised and that Carrick had “ruined” her life and tainted her views on sex and relationships.

During a police interview over her claims, Carrick said that sex with the woman was consensual and accused her of being motivated by the MeToo movement.

But after five hours of deliberation, jurors convicted the former police officer of of five charges of sexual assault on the child and two charges of rape, one of sexual assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards the former partner.

Sentencing, Mrs Justice McGowan noted Carrick’s “cynical willingness” for the two women to be forced to give evidence in court because of his continued denial of wrongdoing.

The judge said that failure to act on a written confession to abusing the 12-year-old girl that the then-teenaged Carrick made in 1990 had consequences for his future crimes.

She told Carrick: “You were able to admit what you did but despite that you changed the meaning of that confession in these proceedings.

“The confession was not acted on in a way that may have prevented you from attacking and raping many other women. They were the first examples to come to light of your disposition to commit predatory sexual crimes.”

She added: “I have no doubt that you are dangerous and the life sentences on an earlier occasion are fully merited.”

In statements read to the court, the victims described the ongoing trauma from Carrick’s abuse and the lifelong effect his actions had on their lives. The woman who was molested as a child had difficulty trusting people and forming relationships, the court was told.

She said: “The public revelations of David’s actions caused me to relive my trauma which severely impacted my mental health.

“I do not believe David has any remorse for his actions. He tries to blame his past home life for what he has done. Although his actions and the depravity are now known the impact on my life is far from over.”

The woman who was raped by Carrick during a formative relationship described the feeling of viewing herself through a “looking glass”.

Her experiences had the effect of “rewriting” her understanding of future relationships and doubting herself.

She grieved for the life she might have had, and said in her statement: “I did not get the chance to learn love in the way most people do – I learned survival instead.

“I fight through fear, through memories, through the exhaustion trauma leaves behind.”

Following the guilty verdicts, Detective Superintendent Iain Moor, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said the future could have been very different if Carrick’s confession was handed to police in 1990.

“Hopefully, people are starting to feel more confident to come forward and report matters to the police. I think there’s still more work to do,” the senior officer said.

Harry Kane’s surgeon in £78,000 battle with car dealership over stolen Bentley

A top Premier League surgeon who fixed Harry Kane’s hamstring is suing an iconic Mayfair “gentleman car dealer” for £78,000 after the theft of his Bentley.

Fares Haddad, a world-acclaimed orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports medicine, is suing Jack Barclay Ltd – the UK’s oldest Bentley dealership – over a claim that it negligently failed to ensure the vehicle’s location was monitored by a registered electronic tracker if it was stolen.

After Mr Haddad’s Bentley Continental GTW12 was taken from his drive in January 2023, the surgeon tried to claim on his insurance, but he was knocked back by his insurers, who refused to pay up because his Bentley wasn’t fitted with a properly activated tracker.

Mr Haddad, 58, now says he assumed that Jack Barclay’s staff would set up a continuing tracker subscription for him through Vodafone, after conversations and email exchanges with a showroom executive in 2019, when he was considering buying the Bentley.

He is now claiming a total of £78,643 from Jack Barclay Ltd – trading as Jack Barclay Bentley – as he sues the firm for the return of money paid out under his HP agreement, which his insurers refused to cover after the theft.

But the dealership – which is famed for its iconic vintage Mayfair showroom and its reputation as a “gentleman car dealer” – is denying negligence, liability, and “foreseeability of loss”.

The dealer denies undertaking to activate the Bentley’s tracker, insisting that Mr Haddad alone was responsible for doing so.

Mr Haddad is the clinical director of the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, and holds special expertise in hip joint, knee reconstruction and major ligament injuries.

It was Mr Haddad who ended up saving the latter phase of then Tottenham forward Harry Kane’s 2019-20 season after the England captain tore his hamstring.

Kane underwent surgery for a ruptured tendon, but was back in training by May 2020 and competing in the latter part of the specially extended Covid Premier League season.

The year before that, in 2019, Mr Haddad had bought his Bentley Continental from Jack Barclay in part exchange for his former car, an Aston Martin, on the basis of a hire-purchase credit agreement, the court heard.

The then brand-new model of the GTW12 featured a six-litre engine and an eight-speed gearbox along with a top speed of 207mph, and retailed for up to £200,000.

The car was stolen in 2023, and Mr Haddad put in an insurance claim, only to have it refused due to the tracker not being operational, as per the conditions of his policy. He is now suing Jack Barclay Ltd for £78,643 at Central London County Court.

The surgeon’s barrister, Bradley Say, told Judge Andrew Holmes that Mr Haddad was assured when he bought his Bentley that “a tracker is standard on the car and I will set that up for you ….”

“Mr Haddad made a particular point of asking … about the tracker when he picked up the vehicle, because of the previous problems he had with the tracker on his Aston Martin,” explained Mr Say.

But although the car was sold with a tracker that was “live” for the first year of use, the subscription was never registered or renewed, so that by the time the car was stolen in 2023, the tracker was inoperative, the court heard.

Later enquiries revealed that the tracker had been fitted and commissioned by a Jack Barclay engineer, but was not registered as customer details had not been supplied to set up a subscription.

Speaking from the witness box, Mr Haddad said he had never received a contract from Vodafone to set up a subscription for the tracker, but had understood that everything would be arranged by Jack Barclay.

“I assumed they were setting it up for me and that it would be activated and functioning, and that if I needed to do anything I would be told what to do,” he said.

His barrister continued: “Mr Haddad says that had the tracker been activated, and had he received reminders from Vodafone to renew, as would have occurred had the subscription been activated, he would have renewed the tracker subscription in the same way as with his motor insurance.

“Although he was aware that the tracker subscription would have to be renewed after the initial 12 months, he assumed it was done automatically via a direct debit, like the payments under his HP agreements.”

Defence barrister Sajid Suleman disputed the notion that any promise had been made by Jack Barclay staff to activate the tracker, also arguing that the responsibility to activate the device “fell on Mr Haddad”, who was entirely to blame for failing to renew his subscription after the initial 12 months of ownership.

And he argued: “There was no contractual obligation on Jack Barclay Ltd to activate the subscription; there is also insufficient evidence, on the balance of probabilities, that the defendant promised to activate the subscription, and therefore no collateral contract/warranty exists.

“Even if Jack Barclay Ltd activated the subscription in 2019, it would have expired after 12 months and long before the vehicle was stolen in 2023.

“Mr Haddad had an obligation under his insurance and HP agreement to ensure that the subscription had been activated. He failed in his contractual obligations, and that is the cause of his loss.”

After a short hearing, the judge reserved his ruling in the case.

From cuisine and culture to history and nature, find the ideal cruise

If you want to see the world from a fresh perspective, then taking to the water is a great way to do it. Not only can travelling by ship  take you to far flung corners of the globe, it can also show you a different side of your favourite destinations and provide some unique experiences, from spotting rare wildlife and glancing remote landscapes to seeing iconic sights from a whole new viewpoint. From epic adventures exploring Antarctica or uninhabited archipelagos in the South Pacific, to itineraries taking the cultural capitals of Europe or sampling the cuisine of South East Asia, there’s a trip for everyone, whatever your passion or wherever you’d like to go.

Combining a cruise with carefully curated time on land gives you the best of both worlds. Audley cruise offerings are tailor made, with the land and water elements of your trip meticulously planned to create a bespoke itinerary that’s as relaxing or as adventure packed as you wish. Audley’s cruise experts will listen to what your dream trip looks like and help you pick the best route, ship and experiences to bring it to life. They work with a range of cruise partners, hand picking vessels for their facilities, service, onboard activities and the experiences they offer in port, so you’ll enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.

Each Audley trip is tailor-made to the traveller – but if you need some inspiration, here’s a taste of the adventures you can experience.

A cruise can offer immersive cultural experiences, from learning about a country’s centuries old traditions to touring cities with world-class galleries and museums. One of the benefits of a cruise is that you can explore multiple stops, giving you plenty of time to take in each destination and tailor the trip to your specific interests.

“For example, a 24 day cruise around Japan visits 10 different ports,” says Audley cruise specialist Caroline. “In the city of Sakaiminato, you can explore the artistry of Japan with a guided visit that takes in both the Adachi Museum of Art and the Yushien Garden. The museum provides a deep dive into Japan’s contemporary art before you head to a nearby island to explore the exuberant peony beds at Yushien. The garden is most spectacular in the spring, but carefully timed plantings mean you’ll always see many of the 250 types of peonies in gloriously full bloom.”

Or how about exploring the art cities of Italy in the largest five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in the world – a romantic call-back to the golden age of sailing? You’ll enjoy personal tours of the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, explore Florence’s Renaissance heritage and discover hidden haunts in Venice.

Audley can make sure your time at sea is just as enriching, with ships that include a variety of experiences and activities to choose from – from expert talks and lectures on subjects like art history, archaeology and local wildlife to art classes like watercolour painting to glassblowing.

With cruises covering all seven continents, and many featuring unique culinary experiences, there’s plenty of trips to tickle the tastebuds of foodies. Wine lovers will enjoy a river cruise of Portugal’s Douro region that takes in port houses in the vibrant city of Porto and stops at vineyards along the picturesque Douro Valley. You’ll enjoy a traditional home cooked meal at a quinta (country house), visit Mateus Palace and Gardens — home of the famous rosé wine – and finish the trip in Madrid, sampling the local tapas.

On a Bali to Bangkok trip you can check out the Indonesian street-food scene, trying delicacies such as Java’s rawon (a black beef soup) and Bangkok’s drunken noodles. In Singapore, watch locals haggle for seafood and spices in the markets and try a Singapore Sling in the very place they were invented: Raffles’ Long Bar.

Wherever you’re heading, the options are just as tasty on board the ship. “The larger and medium-sized cruises we’ve chosen to work with always offer a variety of dining options,” explains  Audley cruise specialist Franki. “With usually at least one buffet-style restaurant, and also usually at least a couple of specialty restaurants, such as trattorias or steakhouses. Audley hand-picks the best vessels with some also offering cooking demonstrations and wine tasting.

From experiencing the world’s wildest and most remote landscapes to spotting rare species, travelling by water offers one-of-a-kind adventures for nature lovers. “No other type of voyage gets you as close to unpeopled landscapes or feeds your curiosity about the world’s wildlife and habitats as expedition cruises,” says Audley cruise specialist Caroline, “Wherever you are, expedition leaders will help root you in your destination, pointing out intriguing features and what to look for.”

There’s also plenty of expert knowledge you can tap into onboard, as Audley cruise specialist Jon explains. “Many of our polar expedition cruises are accompanied by leading researchers who can enlighten you on the icy formations and distinctive wildlife you sail past. Some ships also feature onboard helicopters, offering you the chance to follow the flight paths of Arctic birds and get a rare glimpse of this pristine landscape from the air.”

In the Galapagos Islands, for example, Audley’s Luxury Ecuador and Galapagos tour includes a seven night expedition around the islands where you’ll come face to face with countless incredible species from iguanas, penguins and albatross to sea lions, sea turtles and sharks. The trip also includes a stay in a luxury lodge in the Ecuadorian cloudforest, surrounded by 400 types of wildlife.

A cruise is also the ideal way to discover the landscapes of Alaska. You’ll sail down through fjords, past glaciers and waterfalls – with the option to kayak to the places your cruise ship can’t reach. You might spot otters, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and even orca whales in the water or, on shore, moose, mountain goats and wolves. At the end of the cruise, there’s a stay in Great Bear Rainforest on Berry Island, a haven for bears, whales, marine mammals and birds.

With knowledgeable local experts on hand across the globe, Audley cruises allow you to delve into the history of a destination. A cruise of Croatia’s cities and coasts offers all the spectacular scenery you’d expect – but also give you the chance to walk Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-protected walled city with an expert guide, explore the medieval streets of Šibenik and visit a working 13th century monastery on the island of Visovak.

If you like your history to be ancient, try a luxury river cruise along the Nile, with an exclusive private tour of the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur, and visits to other significant sites including ancient tombs in the Luxor Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Horus, all with an expert local guide ensuring you get the most out of the experience.

With Audley, experiences on land are carefully planned to fit seamlessly with your cruise. “As your trip takes shape, I’ll take care of every aspect of your voyage.” says Audley cruise specialist Steph. “If I need to, I’ll call on the expertise of our most experienced destination-specific specialists to help you make the most of your time – wherever you’d like to go.”

Fellow Audley cruise specialist Jon adds: “Some trips span vast geographical routes, jumping between a myriad of countries that are often challenging to link in one trip. That involves a lot of moving parts, but your specialist will take care of all the logistics so you can focus on getting the most out of your time on land and water.”

With all the organising in hand, you’ll have plenty of time to soak everything in before you set sail again to continue your dream journey.

Audley offer bespoke land-and-sea cruises that you can tailor to your personal travel passions. To find out more and start planning your trip, visit Audley

Transgender guidance dubbed ‘misogynist’s charter’

The Equality and Human Rights Commission‘s transgender guidance has been dubbed a “misogynist’s charter” after reports that trans people could be banned from single-sex spaces based on what they look like.

The document was sent to ministers almost three months ago but is yet to be published, with the government facing pressure to explain the delays.

But a minister on Thursday said it will take time to get “right” and avoid a situation where “toilets are being policed by people”.

According to The Times, which has seen a leaked copy of the document, the EHRC’s guidance suggests transgender people could be banned from single-sex spaces based on what they look like.

Under the new guidance, places such as hospital wards, gyms and leisure centres will reportedly be able to question transgender women over whether they should be using single-sex services based on how they look, their behaviour or concerns raised by others.

The code of practice was updated in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex in April, which ruled trans women are not legally women under the Equalities Act.

It was shared with women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson, Mr MacAlister’s boss at the Department for Education, on 4 September.

Responding to the reports, Trans+ Solidarity Alliance founder Jude Guaitamacchi said: “These leaks reveal that not only does the EHRC’s proposed code of practice seek to require trans exclusion, it instructs service providers to police this based on appearance and gender stereotypes.”

“This is a misogynist’s charter, plain and simple, and the government must reject it”, they added.

Meanwhile, campaign group TransActual said the reported guidance was “a license to discriminate based on looks”.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: “Astonishingly, the UK’s ‘human rights watchdog’ is attempting to mandate that staff at cinemas, hospitals, bars and cafes must try and judge whether users are trans or not based on appearance alone. This is a license to discriminate based on looks, plain and simple.

“We’ve seen this before – people trying to make our society into a place that is only safe for ‘normal’ ladies. Not just loos. But sports centres, changing rooms and more.”

They added: “We offer our solidarity to the many cis women who have been targeted and harassed for their appearance by ‘gender critical activists’ who believed they were trans, and who would be put even further at risk by these rules.”

Children’s minister Josh MacAlister acknowledged “the problem isn’t going to go away” as the government continues to assess guidance produced by the equalities watchdog.

He toldTimes Radio: “These are massive issues and I think that the public now looking at the draft guidance from the EHRC will recognise that when you drill down into examples of how this might be applied, it has big implications for individuals, it has big implications for businesses and public services.”

Meanwhile, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said she would go through the guidance “thoroughly and carefully”.

“I have responsibilities to make sure that’s done properly and we’re taking the time to get this right.

“This is an important area and we want to make sure that women have access to a single-sex provision – that’s incredibly important for domestic violence services, rape crisis centres, so that women are able to heal from the trauma they’ve experienced. But of course, trans people should be treated with dignity and respect”, she added.

Mr MacAlister denied the government was refusing to publish the guidance because it hoped the problem would go away.

“It would be really bad politics, wouldn’t it, because the problem isn’t going to go away,” he said.

“These are live issues and the reason why there’s a big political debate about this is because it’s a really hard issue to resolve between lots of different, competing views.”

He added: “I just ask people to imagine small corridors where you’ve got a set-up around toilets that’s pretty restricted and you’ve got – whether it’s a restaurant or a school or a gym – not that much space to play with.

“The guidance, as it’s written, has implications for both how physical buildings are set up, but also how staff in those settings would need to determine and judge even whether somebody might look like a woman.

“And so we want to avoid being in a position where toilets are being policed by people.”

Defending the delay in publishing the guidance, he said: “Three months is very little time in the grand scheme of things.

“So, we’re doing this as fast as we can and there’s no deadline that we’re putting on it. We want to get it right, and if we don’t get it right it does risk putting this back into the courts and providing even greater uncertainty for people. So, we’re going to take our time to get it right.”

It came as the prime minister’s official spokesperson said everyone “should be treated with dignity and respect”, but insisted that the government would not rush the process.

Asked about reports that trans people could be banned from single-sex spaces based on what they look like, the spokesperson told reporters: “The code of practice is 300 pages long. It’s detailed it’s not a straightforward and simple issue. I’m not going to comment on a leaked version while we consider that process.”

He added: “I think you’d be hard pressed to find people across the country who don’t think fellow human beings should be treated with dignity and respect in the eyes of the law.

“On the substantive point, we’ve been clear that the supreme court ruling has brought clarity.”

Asked whether the government plans to expedite publication of the report, the PM’s spokesperson said: “It’s a matter of fact that the proposed code is 300 pages long. We want guidance in place as soon as possible but we wont rush this given the implications for people.”

Israel accused of war crimes over expulsion of refugees from camps

Israel’s forced displacement of the populations of three West Bank refugee camps earlier this year amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity, a new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has found.

Around 20,154 people were expelled from the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps during ‘Operation Iron Wall’, an Israeli military operation which began on 21 January just days after a temporary ceasefire was announced in Gaza, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Another 11,765 have been displaced from the Jenin refugee camp as a result of operations by Israeli and Palestinian forces in 2025, bringing the total to nearly 32,000, OCHA figures show.

In a damning 105-page report, HRW concluded that Israeli forces issued abrupt orders for civilians to leave their homes, with soldiers methodically storming homes, ransacking properties, interrogating residents, and forcing families out.

The Israeli military said these were counter-terror operations, with the goal of thwarting imminent terror attacks and preserving its mobility in all areas of the West Bank. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as “another step toward achieving the goal we have set – strengthening security in Judea and Samaria”.

But Nadia Hardman, senior refugee and migrant rights researcher at HRW, said Israeli authorities “forcibly removed 32,000 Palestinians from their homes in West Bank refugee camps without regard to international legal protections and have not permitted them to return”.

She added: “With global attention focused on Gaza, Israeli forces have carried out war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank that should be investigated and prosecuted.”

Israeli authorities failed to provide shelter or humanitarian assistance to displaced residents, with many sheltering with relatives and friends, or turning to mosques, schools and charities for help, the report states

The Independent has contacted the Israeli military for further comment.

The report, titled ‘All My Dreams Have Been Erased’: Israel’s Forced Displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank, includes interviews with 31 displaced Palestinians from the three camps, and analysed satellite imagery, Israeli military demolition orders, and verified photos of the military operations, HRW said.

One 54-year-old woman told the organisation that Israeli soldiers “were yelling and throwing things everywhere…. It was like a movie scene – some had masks and they were carrying all kinds of weapons. One of the soldiers said, ‘You don’t have a house here anymore. You need to leave.’”

The three camps were first established in the 1950s, to house Palestinians who were expelled from their homes or who fled from Israel-proper after the Jewish state was created in 1948.