Turkey says all 20 soldiers on board military plane killed in Georgia crash

Turkey has confirmed that all 20 personnel aboard its military cargo plane that crashed in Georgia on Tuesday have been killed.

The Turkish military transport plane carrying 20 personnel, including crew members, crashed in Georgia shortly after taking off from Azerbaijan.

Footage of the C-130 Hercules showed it spiralling through the air, trailing white smoke before slamming into the ground and erupting into a column of black smoke.

The aircraft was en route back to Turkey when it went down, though the cause of the crash remains uncertain.

“We have learned with great sorrow that our C-130 military aircraft has crashed on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border. Our efforts to reach the wreckage continue in coordination with the national authorities,” said Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A few minutes after entering Georgian airspace, the aircraft “disappeared from radar without transmitting a distress signal”, the Georgian air navigation service said earlier.

The Interpress news agency reported that the aircraft crashed in Sighnaghi, a municipality in the eastern Kakheti region near Azerbaijan. It said the crash was being investigated under a criminal code article covering air transport and the loss of life.

Mr Erdogan was handed a note by aides at the end of a speech in Ankara to inform him of the crash. He offered his condolences for “our martyrs”, referring to the personnel on the aircraft, without giving more details.

“God willing, we will overcome this crash with minimum hardships,” the leader said. “May God rest the soul of our martyrs, and let us be with them through our prayers.”

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze offered his condolences to Mr Erdoğan over the deadly military plane crash, during a phone conversation between the two leaders. “In this difficult time, Georgia extends full solidarity to our Turkish friends. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragedy,” the prime minister said.

Earlier, Georgian authorities reached the crash site at around 5pm local time, Turkey’s interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, expressed his condolences to Mr Erdogan, “the families and loved ones of the deceased, and the fraternal people of Turkey” in a call.

In an official readout, Mr Aliyev said he had discussed “the tragic news of the loss of servicemen” in the crash with Mr Erdogan.

Turkey deployed a drone to assist in the search and rescue operation and was preparing an accident investigation team to leave for Georgia, according to broadcaster NTV.

US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said he was “deeply saddened by today’s tragic crash of a Turkish Armed Forces aircraft”, and extended condolences to the families of the fallen, adding that the US “stands in solidarity with our Turkish allies”.

Lockheed Martin, the American manufacturer of C-130 Hercules, which is used by air forces around the world, said it was “committed” to supporting the investigation.

The C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military cargo and troop carrier plane that can use unprepared runways for take-off and landing.

Turkey reached an agreement last month with the UK to buy 12 second-hand C-130J aircraft.

Turkey shares strong military and diplomatic ties with Azerbaijan. Mr Erdogan recently attended celebrations in Baku commemorating the 2020 win in the Nagorno-Karabakh war against Armenia.

Seven men charged in Bristol grooming gang investigation

Seven men have been charged after an investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in Bristol.

The men have cumulatively been charged with more than 40 offences against 11 teenage victims.

Avon and Somerset Police said the offences date from between 2022 and 2025.

The men were all re-arrested on Tuesday in a police operation in Bristol and are due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning.

“It follows an investigation which began in November 2023 after concerns were raised about the sexual exploitation of a teenage girl,” Avon and Somerset Police said.

“In April 2024, initial arrests were made as part of a day of action in the city. Those arrested were released on bail to allow enquiries to take place, with a dedicated team working to identify and investigate offences.”

The alleged victims were in their mid to late teens when the alleged offences occurred, police said.

Syrian national Mohamed Arafe, 19, of Speedwell in Bristol, has been charged with five counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of sexual assault, one count of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a further count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.

Iranian national Sina Omari, 20, of Fishponds in Bristol, has been charged with two counts of rape, four counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, one count of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a further count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.

Syrian national Wadie Sharaf, 21, of Redland in Bristol, has been charged with one count of rape, one count of attempted rape, three counts of sexual assault, and a further count of sexual activity with a child.

British national Hussain Bashar, 19, of Southmead in Bristol, has been charged with one count of rape.

British national Mohammed Kurdi, 21, of Henbury in Bristol, has been charged with two counts of rape, two counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of supplying a class A drug (ecstasy) and a further count of supplying a class B drug (cannabis).

A 19-year-old man, who police are unable to name for legal reasons, has been charged with four counts of rape, one count of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, one count of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a further count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.

A 26-year-old man, who police are unable to name for legal reasons, has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert, the senior investigating officer, said: “This remains a complex and sensitive investigation which has the protection of young girls from exploitation and the disruption of offending at its very heart.

“Working with our partners, we’ve ensured the most appropriate safeguarding measures and support has been made available to each victim to protect them from harm.

“Officers have been working around the clock to identify potential offences and we’ve worked extremely closely with the CPS to reach this highly significant stage.”

Six big changes to expect in Budget and how they’ll hit your finances

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set the scene for tax rises in her autumn Budget on 26 November and everyone from homeowners to pension savers could be in her sights.

High inflation and an estimated £30bn fiscal shortfall are putting pressure on the government and ultimately the nation’s finances.

Reeves said in a speech in Downing Street earlier this month that “each of us must do our bit for the security of our country and the brightness of its future.”

This has been seen as a sign of tax rises to come, especially as the chancellor suggested that she had to “deal with the world as I find it, not the world as I might wish it to be.”

The rumour mill has been running for months and with just two weeks to go until the latest fiscal update, here are the key policy changes expected in the Budget and how they might impact your finances.

Labour’s main manifesto pledge when it came to power last year was that it wouldn’t raise national insurance (NI), income tax or VAT.

Reeves already raised employer NI contributions in her 2024 Budget and there are now it is expected that an income tax hike is coming.

There are now rumours that the Treasury is considering an idea from the Resolution Foundation to increase income tax by 2p and reduce employees’ NI by the same amount, which the think tank says could raise £6bn and hit higher earners more than what Labour describes as “working people”.

But Sarah Coles, head of personal finance for Hargreaves Lansdown, said it would also hit self-employed people who pay income tax, but not employee NI.

She said: “They do pay NI, but a different class at a different rate, so they pay 6 per cent on profits over £12,570 up to £50,270 and 2 per cent on profits over £50,270. By only cutting NI for employed people, the system would put more of a burden on the self-employed.”

Commentators have also speculated that the chancellor could instead add 1p to the basic rate of tax, increasing it from 20 per cent to 21 per cent.

Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell, said this would cost taxpayers up to £377 a year in extra tax, with anyone earning £50,270 or more facing the maximum hit.

She said: “While it’s possible income tax rates could be hiked across the board, higher and additional rate taxpayers already account for a disproportionate share of the income tax take. What’s more, increasingly aggressive rates risk discouraging people from taking promotions and progressing their career.

“An increase to the basic rate is easier to position as a shared burden since it affects almost all workers, as well as pensioners and some savers.”

Reeves already announced last year that pension savings will form part of an estate for inheritance tax calculations from 2027.

There is always speculation about restrictions on pension tax relief for higher earners but the latest rumours suggest the chancellor could reduce how much tax relief employees can get from contributing to their pension through salary sacrifice.

It has been suggested such a move means the average worker might be affected to the tune of £210 a year.

Antonia Medlicott, managing director of Investing Insiders, said: “The chancellor risks undermining trust in the system, which could deter people from saving or push higher earners into more risky products as they look for alternative ways to save tax.”

A mansion tax is popular among many Labour MPs and was a party policy under former leader Ed Miliband.

Reeves previously ruled out a mansion tax as shadow chancellor.

But there are now rumours that an effective mansion tax could be introduced by charging council tax on the sale of homes above £1.5m or even charging a one per cent annual levy on properties worth above £2m.

Just over 150,000 properties in England and Wales would fall into the £2m bracket today, according to Knight Frank calculations, mainly around London.

Many homebuyers will be hoping for changes to stamp duty, especially after the thresholds increased in April and pushed up the cost of buying a property.

Reeves will also be under pressure on property taxes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch announced in her party conference speech that the Conservatives would scrap stamp duty if they were back in government.

That seems unlikely given the high levels of income the tax provides for the Treasury but there are rumours that stamp duty could be replaced with a new national property tax on home sales above £500,000, shifting the cost from buyers to sellers.

Rightmove figures show that just under a third of homes for sale in England are priced above £500,000 and would be subject to the proposed new annual property tax.

But this would again hit London hardest, where 59 per cent of listings have an asking price above £500,000 versus just eight per cent in the north east.

Johan Svanstrom, chief executive of Rightmove, suggests that shifting the burden of stamp duty onto a seller may be good for first-time buyers, although any savings may be offset by higher asking prices.

He added: “If the responsibility for property taxes shifts onto the sellers’ side, the government will need to really think through how this transition will be phased in to avoid slowing down the mass market. Those who have recently paid stamp duty as a buyer and would face paying property tax as a seller in the future would clearly be at a disadvantage.”

Reeves is also rumoured to be looking at replacing council tax with a new percentage charge on a property’s value annually – capped at a minimum of £800.

Landlords are already facing extra regulations from the Renters’ Rights Act and were hit with higher stamp duty charges in the previous Budget.

Another tax clampdown could be coming for landlords as the Treasury is now rumoured to be considering charging NI on rental income.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “The private rented sector is a significant driver of labour and social mobility. It enables people to move for work, access higher education, and seize new opportunities – everything the Government wants to promote as part of its growth agenda.

“Instead, landlords are facing yet more speculation about tax hikes that would hinder investment, reduce supply, and ultimately drive-up rents.”

Reeves is keen to boost investment in the UK and in British stocks.

One way to do this could be to cut the cash ISA allowance to encourage more money to go into stocks and shares ISAs, although there is no guarantee that this would mean investing in British companies.

There are reports that a £12,000 cash ISA limit could be introduced, effectively cutting the allowance by almost half.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance for Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “This would be miserable news for diligent savers. If they’re saving for the short term, cash is the right home for their money, so they would end up being forced to pay more tax through no fault of their own.

“If they have a longer time horizon and they’re still in cash, then the reason they’re not investing yet isn’t anything to do with tax.”

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

Keira Knightley stars in Waitrose’s Christmas ‘mini romcom’ ad

Waitrose has launched its Christmas campaign with an ambitious four-minute romantic comedy, featuring acclaimed actress Keira Knightley and comedian and Celebrity Traitors star Joe Wilkinson in a festive tale of culinary connection.

Directed by Bafta-winning Molly Manners, the advert charts the blossoming relationship between Knightley and Wilkinson’s characters, united by their shared passion for food.

The ad begins as they meet for the first time at a Waitrose cheese counter, and culminates with Wilkinson – who reprises his role as Phil, from the grocer’s 2024 “whodunnit” festive campaign – recreating Keira’s Nan’s turkey pie recipe.

Knightley expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating: “I love food, and so when I received this script where I get to fall head over heels in love over a shared love of cheese, I couldn’t turn it down. I adored working on this silly, fun and delicious film with Joe, and I hope those watching it fall in love too.”

Wilkinson, known for his comedic timing, added: “It was great to be back with Waitrose for their 2025 Christmas campaign. This year, Phil got to enjoy both the love and the food he truly deserved. As you can imagine, it was tough having to eat the delicious Waitrose food and falling in love with Keira, but I just got on with it, like the trooper I am.”

The advert’s soundtrack features the track “She’s A Star” by the British band James.

Nathan Ansell, Waitrose chief customer officer, highlighted the unique nature of the campaign: “Our four-minute Christmas film – an industry first – pays homage to the seasonal romantic comedy tradition, celebrates the exciting and elevated Waitrose festive food offering, and adds a little more of that warm, fuzzy feeling to the holiday season.”

Director Molly Manners also shared her experience: “We had such a great time making the perfect miniature romcom with food as a love language deep at its heart. The combination of Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson is magical in such an unexpected way. I hope they knock your socks clean off, as they did mine.”

Waitrose’s 2024 two-parter Christmas campaign was entitled “Sweet Suspicion, A Waitrose Mystery” with a cast including Matthew Macfadyen of Succession, Rakhee Thakrar of Sex Education, Sian Clifford from Fleabag, Dustin Demri-Burns of Slow Horses, Eryl Maynard of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Wilkinson.

What nutritionists never eat to avoid chronic illness in old age

Trending diets dip in and out of fashion on a regular basis; just look at the undulating popularity of the Atkins, keto, 5:2 or paleo over the years. However, by its original definition, diet is the opposite of temporary – it is the food you habitually eat. To support long-term health, you need to establish long-term healthy eating patterns, but with the amount of noise around nutrition nowadays, that is easier said than done.

To do it successfully, pays to swerve trends and instead focus on simply prioritising certain health-promoting foods. As a fitness writer, nearly all of the nutrition-minded academics, researchers, authors, dietitians, nutritionists and trainers I regularly speak to tend to agree on a selection of items you should be eating to live better for longer.

The message is clear: eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains,” writes Adrián Carballo Casla of the Aging Research Center at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. “Choose healthy fats like rapeseed oil and fish. Limit red and processed meats, sugary drinks and solid fats.” These findings come from a recent study published in the Nature journal. The foods listed above, Carballo Casla continues, are the foundations of diets associated with “slower ageing, better brain health and fewer chronic diseases”.

“Ageing is inevitable, but people can shape how it unfolds,” he concludes. “Our findings suggest that even small changes in diet can make a meaningful difference in how people experience later life, regardless of their age.”

Read more: How fibremaxxing became the secret to better gut-health and easy recipes to use now

The Aging Research Center’s study followed more than 2,400 Swedish adults aged 60 and above for 15 years. Participants followed one of four existing dietary patterns:

The first three “healthy” dietary patterns “showed a protective association with the speed of accumulation of chronic diseases [such as heart disease, diabetes and depression] in older adults over time”. The EDII diet, on the other hand, had a negative impact in this area.

“The study findings highlight the potential role of diet in the prevention of multimorbidity expansion in older populations, with possible implications for dietary guidelines, other public health strategies and clinical practice,” the paper concludes.

Or, as Carballo Casla puts it: “We found that people who consistently ate a healthy diet developed chronic diseases more slowly, in contrast to those whose diets were considered more inflammatory; that is, diets high in processed meats, refined grains and sugary drinks, which are known to promote low-grade chronic inflammation in the body.”

Read more: How the £100 weekly shop became a viral trend – and reveals the true cost of living crisis in the UK today

Inflammation is a word that crops up a lot nowadays, with many food adverts crowing about their product’s anti-inflammatory capabilities. What is less publicised is what this actually means.

“Inflammation is actually not a bad thing,” says Dr Valter Longo, director of the University of Southern California Longevity Institute. “It is part of the human body’s response to attack – to attack bacteria or cancer cells, or to try to clear up junk that’s accumulated somewhere in the body.

“There is a whole set of cells and cytokines to get that done. Let’s say there’s a wound; you would have an inflammatory response because your system wants to fight infectious agents and repair the wound.”

Yet, the Karolinska Institutet’s study finds that “a diet high in inflammatory foods was linked to faster accumulation [of chronic diseases]”.

“The problem [with inflammation] is, as you get older, the process can get disrupted and it can continue when it shouldn’t continue,” Dr Longo explains.

Wrongly believing there is an infection of invasion, the cells of the immune system and cytokines continue in attack mode, damaging healthy tissues including those in the heart, brain and joints. This is how inflammation can contribute to a range of chronic diseases such as autoimmune disease and rheumatoid arthritis, says Dr Longo.

“The inflammation is at its best a healing process, but at its worst the consequences of inflammation can ramify through the body,” adds Professor David Nutt, a leading neuropsychopharmacologist specialising in drugs that affect the brain, and co-founder of alcohol alternative Sentia. “There are many disorders, which we call autoimmune disorders, where the body’s own immune inflammatory response attacks the body.

“When you get a cold, it drags you down a bit, and when people had Covid, a lot of them had severe depression and anxiety – that’s through inflammation. Alcohol produces the same kind of inflammation in the brain.”

For this reason, limiting or completely removing alcohol from your diet is another piece of advice I have consistently encountered for improved health and longevity.

Read more: The five ultra-processed food ingredients to avoid on packaging – and what to buy instead

Dr Longo’s “longevity diet”, which he recommends for better health and a longer life, shares many of its roots with the Karolinska Institutet’s recent conclusions.

“It almost completely eliminates red meat, it keeps white meat very low, and fish is eaten maybe three or four times a week,” he explains. “There are lots of vegetables, lots of legumes, lots of tree nuts, wholegrain cereals and some fruits. These are some of the ingredients that, consistently all over the world, have been associated with living a longer, healthier life.”

What does earn a prominent spot on this list is wholefoods – food that has been processed or refined as little as possible. These foods tend to be more nutritious than their processed counterparts, carrying benefits beyond their calorie count courtesy of their vitamin and mineral provisions.

“I like focusing on nutritious foods you can add into your diet because appetite is finite, so they tend to have a habit of displacing other [less nutritious] foods out of your diet,” says Ben Carpenter, an experienced trainer and author of best-selling books Everything Fat Loss and Fat Loss Habits.

He cites a study on children which found that, when they were encouraged to eat more fruit, they lost weight despite being told to eat more because it led to them eating fewer calorie-dense options such as chocolate and crisps.

“Often nutritious foods tend to be slightly less processed – for example, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, beans, lentils and whole grains,” Carpenter continues. “Even if you’re eating things like rice and oats as opposed to more processed versions of the equivalent grains – doughnuts, pancakes and waffles – it’s a good move.

“I also like the idea of focusing on [encouraging people to eat more] lean sources of protein because that can have a weight management effect, an appetite regulation effect, and it can be good for fat loss and building muscle tissue, specifically if people are resistance training.”

Read more: Six gut-friendly recipes to boost your microbiome

Ultra-processed foods, like those referenced by Carpenter above, are a hot topic right now. Avoiding them is almost impossible, and limiting them is a hard task.

Experts I’ve spoken to have, at best, suggested they could be OK in moderation, and at worst warned people off them wherever possible.

Professor Chris van Tulleken is one of the leading voices in this space, having written the best-selling book Ultra-Processed People.

He defines ultra-processed foods as anything with an ingredient “you don’t typically find in a kitchen, like an emulsifier or a flavouring”. These items, van Tulleken says, are likely to be hyperpalatable and come with a decent serving of saturated fat, sugar, salt and calories alongside other unwanted ingredients. Through these inclusions, he argues, they can have addictive properties with the power to derail a healthy diet.

“If you can find a way of eating real food, we’re very sure that’s better for you,” he concludes. “You don’t have to believe any of the evidence around ultra-processed food to say that’s true – that’s established in nutrition.”

Read more: Three healthy recipes from Em the Nutritionist to reset your September

Another theme among expert nutrition advice is the inclusion of plenty of plant-based wholefoods in your diet – particularly those rich in fibre. This can have a positive impact in many areas such as weight management and gut health.

One frequently recommended route to a healthier gut is to consume 30 or more different plant-based foods each week, says Holland and Barrett’s Emily Foster, a certified nutritionist with a master’s degree in applied sport and exercise nutrition.

“Within our gut microbiome, we have trillions of different microorganisms – you can think of them like a bustling, microscopic city,” she says. “There are beneficial bacteria, but also some viruses and fungi in there as well. The aim is to keep that balance in the bacteria, and also diversity within the types of bacteria that we have in our gut.

“There was a really interesting study called the American Gut Project [later renamed the Microsetta Initiative], which highlighted that a more diverse diet can lead to a more diverse gut microbiome, and this is linked to a healthier gut microbiome. [To achieve this] we want to be consuming plenty of plant fibres to support our gut health.”

For maximum benefits, this should include a healthy dose of prebiotic and probiotic fibres.

A 2019 review in The Lancet found that people who met the recommended daily fibre intake had significantly lower risks of dying from, or developing, chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and other cancer-related illnesses, Foster adds.

Another plant compound worth considering in your diet is polyphenols, according to Dr Karan Rajan, a medical doctor and author of This Book May Save Your Life. “They act as antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties,” he says, adding that they are also often high in fibre.

A 2025 review published in the Ageing Research Reviews journal suggested that “polyphenols may exert geroprotective effects by modulating the hallmarks of ageing”. In layman’s terms, these compounds could boost longevity, having been associated with a lower risk of age-related diseases.

These are the main ones to look out for:

Polyphenols can contribute to improved cardiometabolic function, possible lipid modulation and improved gut health, as well as having anti-inflammatory effects, says Dr Rajan. However, he adds, “We can’t isolate polyphenols as the sole driver of longevity from existing evidence. Other factors such as genetics, sleep, activity, lower smoking and processed food intake all play big roles.”

This is true across the board. There are many variables at play to determine how long you live and how well you live in that time – from exercise and diet right through to socioeconomic status and even luck.

But, as the Karolinska Institutet study states, diet and nutrition are at the forefront of factors known to influence your risk of chronic conditions. Prioritising these common denominators of a healthy diet can, therefore, be seen as a solid start for securing a longer, healthier life.

Read more: Do these five things daily for 90 days to see a ‘profound difference’ in your health, fitness and energy levels

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

NHS trust fined after woman takes life in mental health unit

The mother of a young woman who killed herself on a hospital ward has criticised staff for “indifference, ignorance, even at times cruelty” as an NHS Trust was fined more than £500,000.

Alice Figueiredo, 22, took her own life in a mental health unit at Goodmayes Hospital, Redbridge, after more than 10 similar attempts.

Her death on 7 July 2015 followed a failure to remove items from the communal toilets on Hepworth Ward that had been used by her to self-harm.

Following an Old Bailey trial, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) was found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of a non-employee. On Tuesday, the Trust was fined £565,000 over the health and safety breach, plus £200,000 costs.

In setting the amount, Judge Richard Marks KC noted that the Trust’s finances were in an “absolutely parlous state” and a fine could impact on services.

Ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, 54, was convicted of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of patients on the ward that Ms Figueiredo was on.

Judge Richard Marks KC sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, plus 300 hours of unpaid work.

The judge described Ms Figueiredo, a former head girl, as a “beautiful, vibrant young woman” who was “hugely talented” and had an “extremely” attractive personality.

He said: “Her death at such a young age in the circumstances in which it occurred is a terrible tragedy.”

The judge said the accessibility of the items in the communal toilets was a “very serious problem”.

He said: “I am in no doubt that there was a complete failure to adequately assess and manage the risk that this posed.”

Keeping the communal area temporarily locked while Ms Figueiredo was on the ward would not have posed a problem beyond one of “inconvenience”, the judge said.

Judge Marks said Aninakwa had also failed to address “major concerns” of Ms Figueiredo’s mother which should have “rung major alarm bells”.

He told the defendant: “You knew that she was suicidal – she was the only patient on the ward that was. Your negligent breach of duty went on for weeks.”

The judge took into account the 10-year delay in the case in his decision to suspend Aninakwa’s jail sentence.

Earlier, Ms Figueiredo’s mother and former hospital chaplain Jane Figueiredo said they had been treated with “dismissive contempt, belittling and playing down” their “well-founded” concerns in 2015.

In a victim impact statement, she told the court: “Such attitudes go against everything patient care stands for in our NHS.”

She told the court that her daughter was not known for fabricating stories about staff neglect or forming “arbitrary dislikes” towards them.

Addressing the ward manager, she told the court: “What she did not like on your watch in 2015, Mr Aninakwa, was being treated by some staff with unkindness, harshness, indifference, ignorance, even at times cruelty or being endangered and left at risk by neglectful and incompetent staff some of whom seemed to be clueless about their duties and responsibilities a fact you were often in denial of.”

She described her daughter as a “uniquely beautiful, brave, affectionate, generous, kind, colourful, creative and luminous spirit”.

She said: “The impact of Alice’s untimely, preventable death on every aspect of my life and our life as a family has been immeasurable.

“The loss of our daughter was followed by many other losses. In my case, one of the first and main things I lost was my job. I was a hospital chaplain working for NELFT in rehabilitation wards, a job I loved but obviously could never return to that role after the catastrophic way they failed Alice, even though I had for example personally warned the ward on multiple occasions including in writing that she was in danger and her life was at risk.”

She added: “Our pain and suffering were also magnified in countless ways by the trust’s course of conduct after Alice died and the disingenuous ways they behaved towards us.”

Ms Figueiredo was first admitted to the Hepworth Ward in May 2012 with a diagnosis including non-specific eating disorder and bipolar affective disorder.

During her time on the acute psychiatric ward, the trust failed to remove items from the communal toilets or keep them locked.

She had used the items to self-harm on at least 10 previous occasions.

However, the court heard of eight more incidents involving similar materials before Ms Figueiredo took her own life.

The suicide attempts were recorded in ward notes and other hospital records.

Aninakwa, who was subject to a performance improvement plan, had failed to remove items that could be used for self-harm and failed to ensure incidents of self-harm were recorded, considered and addressed, jurors had heard.

Aninakwa and the trust had denied wrongdoing, but declined to give evidence.

The investigation into Ms Figueiredo’s death began in 2016, but charges were not brought until September 2023.

NELFT was cleared of corporate manslaughter, and Aninakwa was found not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.

The first corporate manslaughter trial against an NHS trust collapsed in 2016 after a judge ruled there was no case to answer.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you

New laws to bolster UK’s defences against cyber attacks

IT companies that provide services for the NHS, as well as the UK’s energy, water and transport infrastructure, will face tough new security standards in a new law introduced by ministers to mitigate the threat of cyber attacks.

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be introduced on Wednesday in a move that ministers hope will strengthen national security by boosting cyber protections for the services that people and businesses rely on.

The aim is to keep taps running, lights on and the UK’s transport services moving as businesses, transport hubs and government organisations continue to be targeted by cyber attacks.

The last month the National Cyber Security Centre said a “significant threat” posed by Chinese and Russian hackers had contributed to a record number of serious online attacks.

The OBR has warned a cyber-attack on critical national infrastructure could temporarily increase borrowing by over £30 billion – the equivalent of 1.1 per cent of the UK’s GDP.

Further research published on Wednesday shows the average cost of a significant cyber-attack in the UK is now over £190,000, equivalent to £14.7 billion a year across the economy – equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the GDP.

The proposed laws would regulate IT management, IT help desk support and cyber security companies that provide services for private and public sector organisations.

Medium and large companies that hold trusted access to important infrastructure and business networks will need to meet clear security duties and report major cyber incidents to government and their customers.

Key providers to the UK’s essential services, such as those who provide healthcare diagnostics to the NHS or chemicals to a water firm, can be categorised as critical suppliers by regulators. This will mean they need to meet minimum security requirements in order to shut down gaps in supply chains that criminals could exploit, as a new power for regulators.

Tougher penalties will be introduced to prevent companies from cutting corners when it comes to providing taxpayer services. Liz Kendall, as technology secretary, will get new powers to instruct regulators and the organisations they oversee to take more steps to prevent cyber attacks.

“Cyber security is national security,” said Ms Kendall. “This legislation will enable us to confront those who would disrupt our way of life. I’m sending them a clear message: the UK is no easy target.

“We all know the disruption daily cyber-attacks cause. Our new laws will make the UK more secure against those threats. It will mean fewer cancelled NHS appointments, less disruption to local services and businesses, and a faster national response when threats emerge.”

The new bill has received backing from National Cyber Security Centre CEO Dr Richard Horne, who has said: “The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill represents a significant step towards ensuring the nation’s most critical services are better protected and prepared in the face of an increasingly complex threat landscape.

“The real-world impacts of cyber attacks have never been more evident than in recent months and so we welcome the move to strengthen legislation and regulatory powers to help drive up the level of defence and resilience across critical national infrastructure.

“Cyber security is a shared responsibility and foundation for prosperity, and so we urge all organisations, no matter how big or small, to follow the advice and guidance available at ncsc.gov.uk and to act on it with the urgency that the risk requires.”

National Chief Information Security Officer for Health & Care at NHS England, Phil Huggins said: “The Bill represents a huge opportunity to strengthen cyber security and resilience to protect the safety of the people we care for.

“The reforms will make fundamental updates to our approach to addressing the greatest risks and harms, such as new powers to designate critical suppliers.

“Working with the healthcare sector, we can drive a step change in cyber maturity and help keep services available, protect data, and maintain trust in our systems in the face of an evolving threat landscape.”