Travel News

Story by Rachael Burford

London businesses are being fined almost £1million a month for hiring illegal workers as Home Office raids are stepped up, figures have revealed.

Almost 40 firms in the capital were handed combined penalties totalling £2,780,000 in the last three months of 2024, Home Office data shows.

The latest raids by immigration officers on a central London shop revealed the premises being entirely run by people in the country illegally.

Staff members on shift at Strand News were found to have overstayed their visas when officers visited on March 6 and March 18.

One man, from India, had entered the country in 2009 on a student visa and told the Home Office he was being paid £45 a day to work.

Raids targeting people smuggling and illegal working in London have been stepped up (NCA)

Another, also from India, claimed he managed the shop and said his wages were £1,200 a month, paid in cash.

Allegedly illegal vapes containing up to 8,000 puffs were also seized. Vapes are capped at 600 puffs under UK laws.

In documents submitted to Westminster Council, the Home Office said: “Immigration Enforcement conducted two visits to Strand News in the space of 12 days, where illegal workers were found on both occasions.

“These individuals were identified as solely being responsible for running the premises and the sale of alcohol.

“Both individuals admitted to working at the premises, having been recruited directly by the business owner, who had not verified their immigration status or right to work.

“They also confirmed that they were paid in cash and did not pay taxes on their earnings. Both individuals were found to be residing and working in the UK illegally.

“This not only highlights the business owner’s failure to conduct even the most basic right-to-work checks, but also points to a sustained effort to employ undocumented workers.

“These individuals were entrusted with the running of the premises - often as the sole staff present.”

The business, on The Strand, was handed a £40,000 fine and now faces having its licence to sell alcohol revoked.

From July 5 last year - the day the new government came to power - until October 31, there were 3,188 enforcement visits — compared to 2,371 raids during the same period in 2023.

Arrests also jumped, from 1,836 to 2,299. Between July and September last year, fines totalling nearly £1.9 million were handed out by the Home Office to almost 50 London businesses.

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said the rollout of eVisas would help tackle illegal working.

He said: “Since we came to power we've ramped up enforcementraids on illegal working. Arrests have gone up by 50% and we're tightening the law on delivery drivers.

“Digital ID will help us tackle illegal working and we're rolling out the use of eVisas to have digital records of immigration status and checks to allow on the spot checks of anybody's right to work.”

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A preliminary report said the plane's fuel switches were moved to the 'cut-off' position 'immediately' after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine.

BY James Cheng-Morris·Freelance news writer, Yahoo UK

The captain of the Air India flight which crashed last month cut off fuel to the plane’s engines seconds after takeoff, US officials believe.

One pilot on the flight was asked why he had cut off the fuel of the Boeing BA.N 787 Dreamliner by another, but "the other pilot responded that he did not do so”.

The London-bound Air India flight lost thrust seconds after taking off on 12 June, crashing into a medical student hostel in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people in total, including 52 Britons.

Investigators did not identify which remarks were made by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and which by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively.

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As the probe continues, here are some of the unanswered questions about the crash.

Why were the fuel switches cut off?

The preliminary report said both of the plane's fuel switches moved to the "cut-off" position "immediately" after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine.

The report reads: "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut-off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so."

The switches were then returned to their normal in-flight position, which triggered an automatic engine relight and a thrust recovery procedure. While the engines started to recover, it was already too late, and the plane crashed.

It has raised questions about what happened with the switches. Professor Graham Braithwaite, director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, said these are used at the end of every flight and in emergency scenarios such as a fire.

They are designed so they cannot easily be "accidentally" turned off and pilots would generally run through a checklist before doing so, he told the Press Association.

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Prof Braithwaite said that if the switch had been moved by a person, that would have been a "very unusual thing to do" at below 1,000 feet (304m).

"It's not the point of flight where you try and call for your coffee, it's a period of flight where your focus is very, very clear, and that first 1,000 feet, it's about keeping the airplane climbing and that's not about clicking switches."

The switches flipped a second apart, the report said, roughly the time it would take to shift one and then the other, US aviation expert John Nance told the Reuters news agency. Like Prof Braithwaite, he said a pilot would never normally turn the switches off in flight, especially as the plane is starting to climb.

What was the role of the pilots?

The fuel switch information has raised questions over the role of the pilots.

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Bhaval Shah, a family friend of Kinal Mistry, 24, who died in the crash, told The Times: "If these switches can't be turned off easily and if no software glitch could have been responsible, then it is deliberate, isn't it? Then it's sabotage or suicide."

Watch: Fuel cut-off on 787 "can't happen by accident"

But there has been pushback against this narrative given it was only a preliminary report.

India's civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu told local news channels: "We care for the welfare and the wellbeing of pilots so let's not jump to any conclusions at this stage, let us wait for the final report."

The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association, quoted in the Hindustan Times, also said on Sunday it is "deeply disturbed by speculative narratives emerging in sections of the media and public discourse – particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide. Let us be unequivocally clear: there is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage."

What was said in the cockpit?

Kunder, who was flying the plane, asked Sabharwal why he moved the fuel switches to the "cutoff" position seconds after lifting off the runway, the Wall Street Journal reported.

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The preliminary report did not contain a transcript of the pilots' communications in the cockpit. This would have been captured by the cockpit voice recorder, which was recovered from the wreckage.

Peter Goelz, a former managing director of the US National Transportation Safety Board, said "there's likely much more on the cockpit voice recorder than what's been shared".

It comes as families of the victims have demanded transparency.

Relatives of Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa, who died in the crash, said: "Moving forwards, we require honesty, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to uncovering the full truth."

Ishan Baxi, cousin of sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, who were meant to be flying home after surprising their grandmother for her birthday, said he was "not satisfied" by the initial report. He told PA: "I just hope the final report brings full clarity on what exactly failed and who’s accountable. It shouldn't hide behind vague terms."

What happens next?

If the final investigation takes more than a year to complete, an interim report will be issued on the anniversary of the crash, Prof Braithwaite said, adding that interim recommendations could be made at any time.

Meanwhile, the preliminary report said investigators have identified “components of interest for further examinations".

BY Simon Calder

Great barrier grief: that is what the UK government promises to end, at least for British travellers to Germany.

“Millions of UK travellers to Germany will be able to use e-gates in the future thanks to a new agreement made between prime minister Keir Starmer and German chancellor Friedrich Merz today,” the Cabinet Office says.

“Germany will roll out the first phase of e-gates access for UK travellers by the end of August, starting with frequent travellers such as Brits with family in Germany or who travel regularly for business.”

I have asked the Cabinet Office how this will work: how do the e-gates (or the staff in charge) know whether I have family in Germany? In the absence of a a cousin in Cologne or a daughter in Dresden, might I squeak in as a regular business traveller; I have also asked how frequently must I visit to qualify?

In any event, once through the e-gates a smiling German official will need to stamp my passport– in accordance with what the UK demanded when leaving the European Union.

Boris Johnson’s fearless negotiators insisted that we would become “third-country nationals” not required to obtain a visa.

Brussels capitulated to our wish to spend hours waiting in queues; to discover that rules on passports validity meant thousands would be turned away from planes; and to have our documents minutely examined to ensure we have not spent more than 90 days in the past 180 days within the Schengen area.

Our illustrious status is shared with many other citizens, from East Timor to El Salvador. But unlike them, the British traditionally make tens of millions of journeys to the EU each year.

We would love to make more of those trips by rail, but the tangle of red tape we negotiated means there isn’t enough space for processing passengers at London St Pancras International, the Eurostar hub. Yet here’s the the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, promising “a direct connection linking London and Berlin” could be in place “in just a matter of years”.

The press was briefed that trains from the UK to Germany could be running by 2030. Allow me to present an equally plausible transport goal for the next five years: “Personal jet packs for all.”

The UK government is clutching at bureaucratic straws with claims such as “Estonia has confirmed they will open up access at Tallinn airport in 2026”. Wise ministers surely know they should be yelling from the rooftops something that the most ardent Leave voter must accept: “Brexit has proved deeply damaging for British travellers to Europe, and we need to fix it.”

Tourists, students, business travellers and those with family in the EU have all suffered from the self-harm administered by Brexit.

Your ease of access to the EU this summer depends on your DNA and/or birthplace. UK citizens wise enough to have ancestry in Ireland, north or south, can obtain an EU passport and regain all the travel freedoms we asked to be taken away.

For everyone else: we need to negotiate a special status that reflects our passion for Europe.

BY Megan Howe

A new UK-Germany treaty could pave the way for direct trains between London and Berlin, promising faster travel for millions across Europe.

The Kensington Treaty, signed on Thursday by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also includes opening e-gates for frequent travellers between the two countries and expanded school exchange programmes.

It comes nearly a decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union, signalling a fresh push to renew friendships with European allies.

Downing Street said the move would help German authorities trace and shut down warehouses used by smugglers to hide small boats destined for illegal Channel crossings to the UK.

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More than 21,000 people have arrived in the UK so far this year by crossing the Channel in small boats — up 56% on the same period last year.

A joint taskforce will be established between governments over the next decade, bringing together transport experts to examine how to establish the necessary border and security controls for direct long-distance rail passenger services.

The taskforce will examine commercial and technical requirements, including safety standards, border arrangements and collaboration with rail operators to make the direct services a reality.

Mr Merz met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington for the signing ceremony.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the rail link could offer an alternative to flying within the next decade.

"We're pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent," she said.

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Having set up rail, air and even space travel enterprises, Sir Richard Branson announced his venture into the cruise industry in 2015. Yet his first ship, Scarlet Lady, came along just as the Covid pandemic struck, so she didn’t make her maiden voyage until 2021; sailing from Portsmouth, rather from Miami, as was originally planned the year before.

The adults-only line was aimed at younger cruisers – who it calls “sailors” – and it soon garnered a reputation for its edgy concepts. These originally included a box of sex aids in every cabin (now discontinued), drag bingo and a tattoo parlour.

But in the intervening years, with the introduction of Valiant Lady in 2022 and Resilient Lady a year later, the line has evolved, focusing more on its impressive food offerings, offbeat entertainment and lively deck parties around the pool.

Everywhere the ships sail, they are instantly recognised by their scarlet funnels and battleship-coloured hulls – the designers considered more than 100 shades of grey before choosing the final hue.

The aesthetic was carefully designed to promote a fresh but relaxing vibe - Virgin Voyages

By Ahmed Kingimi

The bandits stormed Kairu around 1040 GMT on Friday, firing indiscriminately, Abubakar Isa, a resident whose wife was abducted, told Reuters by phone.
Hamisu Faru, a local lawmaker, confirmed the attack to Reuters, saying the assailants took "no fewer than 100 people, including women and children".
"As I'm speaking to you right now, they are searching house-to-house, abducting people," Faru said by phone.
Another resident, Mohammed Usman, said the attackers laid siege to the town for nearly two hours before taking their captives. Thousands of residents have now fled the village, he said.
Zamfara police didn't immediately respond to requests for comments.

A group of schoolchildren from the US were arrested at Heathrow after going on a drunken rampage on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles.

The nine teenagers used fake IDs to buy alcohol before the flight, then drank it at 30,000ft, sparking an emergency alert from pilots on board Flight VS008 on July 14.

Shocked teachers and flight crew said the teens were “screaming and running amok” during the transatlantic journey. When the plane landed at Heathrow, police boarded the aircraft and arrested the group.

The teenagers, believed to be from wealthy American families, were taken into custody where they had mugshots and fingerprints taken. Officers revoked their Electronic Travel Authorisations, meaning their summer plans — including attending camps across Europe — were cut short.

A source told The Sun: “The posh kids couldn’t handle their booze.”

Virgin Atlantic initially refused to fly them back after the mid-air chaos, but later relented — reportedly taking “revenge” by sending the teens to separate cities across the US and telling their parents, some of whom are said to be sports stars, to collect them.

The source added: “The kids bought booze before the flight, then smuggled it on.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests, and the teenagers were warned they could face jail terms.

By Josephine Ogundeji

A plot of land in Eko Atlantic, which was valued at around N180m in the early 2000s, has now skyrocketed to over N2bn, highlighting the rapid appreciation of prime coastal real estate in Lagos, according to a report by the State of Lagos Housing Market, Volume 3.

The report read, ”The past decade has marked a period of profound transformation for the Lagos real estate sector, particularly within its luxury segment. What was once a market with relatively affordable land plots has rapidly matured into a highly competitive and premium investment destination, driven by a dynamic interplay of economic, demographic, and infrastructural forces.

“Over the last 10 years, the Lagos property market has undergone a dramatic shift, transitioning from a landscape and premium investment space to a highly competitive one with more accessible entry points. This evolution is most vividly illustrated by the consistent and often exponential appreciation of land prices.”

It stated that historical data unequivocally demonstrates that land values have moved in a singular direction: upward, with no significant reversals, noting that the longer an investor delays, the more expensive real estate becomes.

“A compelling illustration of this trend is observed in Ibeju-Lekki. A plot of land in this area, which was available for as low as N500,000-N1.5m in 2013 (prior to major development hubs like the Lekki Free Trade Zone), saw its value surge to N5m-N10m by 2018 as significant infrastructure projects commenced.

“By the first quarter of 2025, the same land commanded prices between N25m and N40m, representing a potential 40-fold increase in value over a decade. Similarly, plots in Lekki Phase 1 that were priced at N10m – N15m in 2005 are now valued at over N400m – N500m. Land prices in Eko Atlantic, which stood at N180m per plot in the early 2000s, have also escalated to over N2bn today.

“This extraordinary appreciation underscores that real estate in Lagos has become a primary vehicle for wealth accumulation. The market’s dynamism is driven less by a pure housing need for the general populace and more by its function as a high-yield investment vehicle for the affluent, including a significant proportion of diaspora investors. This establishes luxury real estate as a critical mechanism for wealth generation and preservation in Lagos, particularly for those with patient capital and a long-term investment horizon.”

On the key drivers of market appreciation and growth, the report stated that the remarkable appreciation and growth in the Lagos luxury real estate market over the last decade can be attributed to several interconnected factors:

“Urbanisation and population growth: Lagos’s population has rapidly expanded, reaching nearly 24 million residents, with an annual growth rate of 2.5 per cent. The city experiences an influx of over 6,000 immigrants daily, with approximately 50 per cent choosing to remain, significantly intensifying the demand for housing across all sets, including luxury. The population is projected to exceed 25 million by 2025, further fuelling this demand.

“Despite the broader infrastructural challenges, individual luxury properties in Lagos are equipped with world-class features and amenities designed to meet international standards. These developments aim to create a self-contained, elevated living experience for their affluent residents.”

Modern Nigerian luxury properties increasingly incorporate state-of-the-art home automation and smart home technology. Private amenities such as in-house gyms and swimming pools are common, with ultra-exclusive communities like Banana Island even featuring private helipads and golf courses.

Other premium offerings include infinity pools, 24/7 concierge services, private lounges, and wellness centres. Opulent interior designs often feature dedicated home offices and entertainment lounges, including game rooms, cinemas, and bars. High-quality finishes are standard, encompassing Spanish tiles, security doors, imported sanitary wares, glazed windows, and premium electrical fittings.

The report further stated, “Architectural styles within the luxury segment are diverse, ranging from sleek, modern minimalist designs characterised by clean lines, open spaces, and large windows that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living, to more traditional styles that incorporate intricate woodwork and local materials, reflecting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

“Beyond the physical attributes, exclusivity and prestige are central to the definition of luxury housing in Lagos. Affluent estates like Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lekki Phase 1, and Victoria Island are widely regarded as symbols of wealth, prestige, and modern urban living. Residing in these areas signifies social success and positions individuals among West Africa’s elite.

“Location-specific advantages further enhance this appeal; for instance, residents in Banana Island and Victoria Island enjoy waterfront views, upscale malls, fine dining establishments, and close proximity to business hubs, aligning with international luxury buyer expectations.”

The State of Lagos Housing Market, 3rd Edition, is published by the Roland Igbinoba Real Foundation for Housing and Urban Development. The first and second editions were published in 2009 and 2016, respectively.

North Korea has barred foreigners from a newly opened beach resort, the country's tourism administration said this week, just days after Russia's top diplomat visited the area.

The sprawling seaside resort on its east coast, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's pet project, opened to domestic visitors earlier this month with great fanfare in state-run media.

Dubbed "North Korea's Waikiki" by South Korean media, the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone appears to be lined with high-rise hotels and waterparks, and can purportedly accommodate some 20,000 people.

State media previously said visits to Wonsan by Russian tour groups were expected in the coming months.

But following Lavrov's visit, the North's National Tourism Administration said "foreign tourists are temporarily not being accepted" without giving further details, in a statement posted on an official website this week.

Kim showed a keen interest in developing North Korea's tourism industry during his early years in power, analysts have said, and the coastal resort area was a particular focus.

He said ahead of the opening of the beach resort that the construction of the site would go down as "one of the greatest successes this year" and that the North would build more large-scale tourist zones "in the shortest time possible".

The North last year permitted Russian tourists to return for the first time since the pandemic and Western tour operators briefly returned in February this year.

Seoul's unification ministry, however, said that it expected international tourism to the new resort was "likely to remain small in scale" given the limited capacity of available flights.

Kim held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Wonsan last week where he offered Moscow his full and "unconditional" support for its war in Ukraine, KCNA reported.

Lavrov reportedly hailed the seaside project as a "good tourist attraction", adding it would become popular among both local and Russian visitors looking for new destinations.

Ahead of Lavrov's recent visit, Russia announced that it would begin twice-a-week flights between Moscow and Pyongyang.

John Fredriksen, a Norwegian marine tycoon, is reportedly selling his 300-year old Georgian manor in Chelsea just weeks after criticising Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, for abolishing the non-dom regime.

The property, known as the Old Rectory, is one of Britain’s most expensive houses with two acres of gardens and 10 bedrooms across 30,000 sq ft.

It is set to be put on the market with a £250m price tag – with viewings already taking place, The Times reported.

Mr Fredriksen, who was the UK’s ninth richest man with a £13.7bn fortune before he announced his departure, bought the property in 2001 for around £40m.

The 81-year-old businessman, who is originally from Oslo, Norway, last month said that Ms Reeves’s tax raid had encouraged him to leave the UK and move to the United Arab Emirates.

“The entire Western world is on its way down,” he said, while the UK is “starting to remind me more and more of Norway. Britain has gone to hell, like Norway”.

The sale comes amid predictions that the UK is poised to lose more millionaires this year than any other country, which may fuel more high end property sales.

Last year Ms Reeves raised taxes on the global elite, abolishing the non-dom status and tightening inheritance tax rules. Non-dom rules had allowed foreigners to only pay tax on their UK income – largely shielding their global income from any taxation.

According to Henley & Partners, the UK will lose 16,500 millionaires this year because of the changes, up from 10,800 last year.

Among those who have left or are leaving include Richard Gnodde, who is one of London’s best-known bankers who became Goldman’s vice chairman in January, as well as the steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and property tycoon brothers Ian and Richard Livingstone.

Mr Fredriksen made his fortune building up a fleet of oil tankers and other ships around the world.

Since leaving the UK, he has shrunk his presence including closing the London headquarters of his shipping group Seatankers Management, which was based in Sloane Square.

He has also blasted the US under Donald Trump, saying the president’s trade war was “completely hopeless” and said Norway was “dull”.

“I gave up on them a long time ago,” he said. “I gave up in 1978, when I moved. It has only gotten worse. Norway is completely uninteresting,” he said, adding that “Norway is good for those who work for the state.”