Holidays

A flight attendant from Virgin Australia has given a behind-the-scenes look at a typical pre-flight routine, including checking toilets and safety equipment

It’s easy to assume during a quick changeover that cabin crew staff scramble on-board to do a quick clean before new passengers arrive.

But this is just one small part of what they do, in fact there are a whole host of areas that need checking before the first customer is welcomed on-board. A TikTok video from airline Virgin Australia documents all the important checks that cabin crews conduct behind the scenes. The first part of the pre-flight walkthrough shows a cabin crew member checking the jumpseat harness.

The jumpseat is typically where cabin crews sit during the flight, you may have even noticed that they sit in a very regimented way: with their hands tucked under their thighs. Checking the harness prior to take-off and adopting this specific position are all important measures to keep crews safe in the event of an emergency.

READ MORE: Paying for luggage fees could be avoided by using ‘fisherman’ tactic

According to the video, the next step of the pre-flight check involves collecting the guide that will be used to complete the remaining safety equipment checks. With this guide, cabin crews are then able to ensure that all first aid equipment – also giving them the opportunity to check the condition of the equipment.

The next part of the video shows a cabin crew member setting aside specific safety equipment. The video clarifies this is a demonstration kit – likely to be used during the pre-takeoff presentation. After these initial safety measures, a cabin crew member conducts lavatory checks and catering checks. During these assessments, cabin crews make note of water and waste levels to relay to their cabin manager.

Once fridges are stocked and all safety equipment is checked and ready, the pre-flight check is complete and cabin crews are ready to welcome guests. But this is only one element of the job, the next part begins as soon as they welcome passengers onto the aircraft.

READ MORE: Real reason cabin crew welcome you on planes – it’s nothing to do with manners

You may have assumed the warm greeting is motivated by good old fashioned hospitality. But according to another social media explainer, crew members are actually assessing the physical fitness of each boarding passenger at the door.

In a now-viral TikTok video, MrsMiva – who claims to work for TUI out of Stuttgart airport – has explained flight attendants use the boarding process to check if passengers are able fliers. According to the creator, flight attendants are checking to see if passengers may be “too drunk or sick to fly”.

In the caption for the video, MrsMiva also clarifies that the greeting helps attendants see who could possibly assist in the event of an emergency. The video has been viewed over 18 million times and started a flurry of conversation in the comments section.

SUNSEEKERS are rushing to buy a cheap-as-chips charcoal BBQ ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

This mini-size BBQ is available at Argos for just £15, and shoppers are rushing to snap it up.

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Argos Home Portable Charcoal BBQ, £15

This handy little charcoal barbecue has already amassed over 700 five-star reviews, with over 100 shoppers checking out the BBQ in the last 24 hours alone.

Whether you’re staying put in the garden, caravanning in the countryside, or driving to the nearest beach, this Argos barbie looks the perfect little portable companion.

Its design makes it an excellent choice even if you have limited outdoor space.

Constructed from steel, weighing just 2kg and measuring 31cm wide, this BBQ boasts a “sturdy construction” while remaining lightweight and easy to assemble.

With straightforward instructions, most shoppers report that it takes only minutes to put together, with one noting, “I had it ready to go in 10 minutes flat – no hassle at all!”

Plus, when the day’s over, its compact size makes storing it a breeze.

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Happy customers have also praised how much food they were able to fit on the grill despite its petite stature.

One buyer said, “I’m surprised at how much you can cook on it.”

Another applauded the BBQ further, saying, “It looks small but will easily cook for a family of six plus!”

The BBQ has already earned ample rave reviews from shoppers who are thrilled with its performance, cooking quality, and unbeatable price.

Argos Home Portable Charcoal BBQ, £15

The quality of the heat has been noted numerous times on the Argos site, with grill fans loving the “Lovely handy-sized BBQ” that “cooks food amazingly well” and gets “super hot”.

Argos offers Click and Collect services, meaning you can order, pick up and enjoy this compact powerhouse all in the same day.

There are also payment plans available on the site to split the costs.

At this price, it’s no surprise they’re flying off the shelves, so head to Argos now to grab yours for the summer months ahead before they’re all gone.

For more outdoor deals and sales, visit the shopping home and garden hub.

Here, you’ll find more of latest deals we’ve spotted, including a ‘stylish’ and ‘stunning’ hanging egg chair slashed by £50 at Dunelm and a patio heater reduced from £150 to £40.

We’ve got a list of UK doppelgänger destinations that you can visit without breaking the bank or dealing with the inconvenience of international travel, perfect for the sunny months ahead

If you’re the kind of person who loves travelling, but more often than not are brought back to reality by the soaring costs and inconvenience of international travel, this is your lucky day.

Why, you ask?

Because there’s a solution to your travel woes. Gone are the days where you have to spend thousands of pounds to reach that one remote island off the coast of Italy. Those stunning vistas — or at least really close copies — can now be explored right here at your doorstep in the UK.

Yep, we’ve got a list of UK doppelgänger destinations you can visit without breaking the bank or going through all the hassle.

READ MORE: 1,000 experts name European hidden island gem world’s best beachREAD MORE: You can boat through France’s ‘Wild West’ where wild horses, black bulls and flamingos roam free

Iceland vs The Isle of Skye in Scotland

While Iceland may have an unmatched dramatic mountainous landscape bedecked with over 10,000 waterfalls — Scotland’s very own Isle of Skye is not one to be left behind. Boasting striking landscapes dominated by waterfalls, volcanic terrain, and dramatic coastlines, Isle of Skye is the answer to your Icelandic prayers.

Skye’s famed Fairy Pools are an eye-catching stand-in for Iceland’s Godafoss waterfall, as can clearly be seen in the pictures above. Skye’s Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing feel almost otherworldly, much like Iceland’s iconic

Vatnajökull National Park and the Golden Circle. Both destinations offer a charm deeply submerged in local legend and fantastical folklore, except one is much, much closer to home.

Mont-Saint-Michel in France vs Saint Michael’s Mount in Cornwall

While both are iconic tidal islands that are dedicated to St Michael and have a shared history, a trip to one will (figuratively) make you go for broke, whereas visiting the other will still leave some funds leftover for groceries.

Crowned as one of ‘France’s most stunning sites’ by the local tourist board, Mont-Saint-Michel attracts thousands of tourists every year, whereas its UK counterpart offers a quieter, more tranquil experience, making it the perfect alternative for those wanting to experience the stunning sight without the crowds.

The two spots are often confused for one another, however Normandy’s Mont-Saint-Michel was built between the 11th and 16th century, whereas the construction of the Cornish wonder began in 1135.

Amalfi Coast Italy vs St Ives Cornwall

While most of us may be familiar with Italy’s famous Amalfi Coast, not too many others might know about UK’s very own St Ives in Cornwall. The two spots share an alluring similarity that’s hard to miss.

Both are sun-soaked coastal towns which have pastel-coloured buildings perched on scenic cliffs that overlook azure waters. Boats (luxury and otherwise) can always be found dotting the harbours of both the Italian and British locales.

Portugal’s Albandeira Arch

Dorset’s very own natural wonder, Durdle Door, so closely resembles Portugal’s Algarve that it’s almost eerie. The Algarve, known for its rugged cliffs and picturesque quaint sandy coves, has an almost exact replica in Dorset’s natural limestone arch.

The two spots share a breathtaking similarity that can clearly be seen in their dramatic rock formations and the crystal-clear blue waters surrounding them. While Algarve offers a decidedly gorgeous Mediterranean feel, Durdle Door — where the waters of the English Channel meet the dramatic cliffs of Dorset — puts forth a distinctly British charm in a similarly exquisite landscape.

Norway’s Fjords vs Loch Torridon in Scotland

Loch Torridon in the Scottish Highlands mirrors the awe-inspiring fjords of Norway — without putting you out of pocket. The dramatic cliffs surrounding the Scottish lake reflect the same majestic, rugged beauty seen in famous Norwegian fjords like Geirangerfjord or Nærøyfjord.

Both locations are a haven for nature lovers, with Loch Torridon home to a bounty of marine life including seals, dolphins, and even whales (if you’re lucky). Abundant wildlife, incredible opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and exploring, along with a sense of serenity and remoteness make the two spots outrageously similar.

If approved, the ambitious project which will also stop at Gatwick Airport, could see its first trains running by December 2026

A new direct rail service aims to reshape long-distance travel between two of the UK’s most iconic cities — Brighton and Newcastle.

Spearheaded by the Arriva Group under its Grand Central brand — which also runs services connecting Sunderland and Bradford with King’s Cross in London — the proposal is currently under review by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Current train routes between Brighton and Newcastle typically require passengers to change in London. The proposed service would eliminate this need, offering a seamless, direct connection that links not only these two cities, but also a host of towns and transport hubs along the way.

READ MORE: UK set to launch £1billion 105-mile long Tube line with trains every 5 minutes

The full planned calling pattern of the route is: Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Birmingham New Street, Warwick Parkway, Banbury, Oxford, Reading, Wokingham, Guildford, Redhill, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton.

The new service aims to operate five trains per day in both directions, with each accommodating up to 300 passengers, as well as luggage space for airport travellers, onboard catering, Wi-Fi and charging points.

Enhanced connectivity will directly link underserved towns and cities with major hubs like Gatwick Airport and the South Coast, opening up new opportunities for employment, education and tourism.

Improved rail links are known to stimulate local economies, making it easier for people to access jobs and businesses to reach new markets. The direct connection to Gatwick Airport is particularly significant for communities in the Midlands and North East, offering a convenient, lower-carbon alternative to driving to London for international travel.

Arriva Group’s proposal is part of a wider European strategy to promote sustainable transport and regional integration. The company has recently invested around £300 million in a new battery-hybrid train fleet for its existing routes, underlining its commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility.

The plans are part of a broader commitment to “strengthening regional connectivity and making better use of available rail capacity”, Arriva Group said.

Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains’ Rail Services, Paul Hutchings, said: “We’re committed to connecting communities and enabling more people to travel in ways that are convenient and sustainable, so we’re very pleased to be submitting this application for the first direct service between Newcastle and Brighton, opening up new travel opportunities and making better use of available network capacity – all while building on Grand Central’s proud history of connecting traditionally underserved communities.

“This is an exciting time for Grand Central’s growth story and follows the extension of our existing access rights to 2038 as well as the recent announcement of an investment of around £300 million in a new battery hybrid train fleet for our existing routes, further underlining our commitment and ambition for rail in the UK.”

He added: “We’re very pleased to be submitting this application for the first direct service between Newcastle and Brighton, opening up new travel opportunities and making better use of available network capacity”

Chief Commercial Officer of Gatwick Airport, Jonathan Pollard, added: “We welcome Arriva’s exploration of a regular service between Gatwick, the Midlands and North East. Gatwick is keen to encourage passengers to use public transport and this enhanced connectivity would support underserved areas, while strengthening and growing our catchment.”

The proposal is awaiting regulatory approval from the ORR. If approved, the Newcastle-Brighton service could see its first trains running by December 2026. Not only would it provide a vital new north-south connection, but also make cross-country rail travel more accessible, sustainable and attractive for generations to come.

ROBOT drones that can blind Russian radars will fly with RAF jets to protect them on missions.

A new fleet of StormShroud drones will use electronic warfare jammers to “knock out enemy air defences”, the MoD revealed.

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The AI-powered drones – which are made in west Wales and Southampton – have been battle tested in Ukraine.

The UK fleet – which is thought to number about 24 – will be armed with world-class BriteStorm signal jammers that can dazzle enemy radars.

They are designed to spearhead air attacks – flying ahead of the fighter jets to clear a safe path through air defence missiles.

Downing Street said: “The drones offer a step change in capability by using a high-tech BriteStorm signal jammer to disrupt enemy radar at long ranges, protecting our aircraft and pilots.”

They added: “In revolutionary new tactics, the drones support aircraft like Typhoon and F35 Lightning, by confusing enemy radars and allowing combat aircraft to attack targets unseen.

“This means for the first time, the RAF will benefit from high-end electronic warfare without needing crew to man it, freeing them up for other vital frontline missions.”

RAF chief Sir Rich Knighton said: “This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in air combat and national security.”

The AI-powered drones will act autonomously, detecting and disrupting enemy air defence networks.

Sir Rich added: “Autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionise how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support.”

The Storm Shroud is based on a Tekever AR3 drone fitted with an “electronic warfare payload” made by Leonardo UK in Luton.

The RAF said: “Storm Shroud will support RAF F-35B Lightning and Typhoon pilots by blinding enemy radars, which increases the survivability and operational effectiveness of our crewed aircraft.”

The UK has emerged as a world leader in drone technology.

Our drone market generated around £94.66million in 2023 but is predicted to reach as much as £1.5billion by 2031.

Drones are currently used for an array of tasks including surveying buildings, decommissioning nuclear installations, inspecting dangerous structures and providing emergency searches.

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The Royal Mail is even trialling drone delivery in remote areas.

While 84 per cent of budding drone businesses have fewer than 50 employees, analysts Drone Industry Insights said: “The drone market in the UK is among the top in the world, with significant potential for growth.

“The economy in the UK as a whole offers a unique opportunity for the drone industry to thrive, and it has witnessed significant advancements in the use of drones in recent years, particularly in healthcare and delivery.”

Meanwhile, a probe by The Sun on Sunday revealed that combat drones have now become the dominant killer on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Up to 80 per cent of casualties on both sides of the conflict have been caused by what are known by the military as “unmanned air systems”.

The figures from Western officials mean that eight out of ten soldiers being killed and wounded in the conflict are being targeted remotely by devices piloted by young soldiers often miles behind the front line.

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THOUSANDS of travellers face a month of chaos as airline workers threaten to strike – grounding over 70 per cent of flights.

Holidaymakers planning to fly next month are likely to see huge disruptions as staff threaten to choke travel over a pay dispute, according to UNITE.

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Plane refuellers from World Fuel Services, a major provider at Gatwick, are planning a walk-out from the start of next month.

The UNITE union members claimed their action would be “disastrous” for travellers, predicting they will stop at least 70 per cent of EasyJet in the UK’s second largest airport.

One raging refueller, who wishes to stay anonymous, explained that they don’t “want” to be striking but are left with no other option.

They told The Sun: “[A strike] would be disastrous. It would affect 70 per cent of [easyJet flights].

“None of us want to do it. None of us. But the company, this American company, they’re just being awkward and stubborn and changing the rules as they go along.”

EasyJet accounts for over half of all departures from Gatwick Airport and UNITE union members are responsible for refuelling over 250 planes each day.

Management offered a 4.25 per cent pay increase over a year and a 7.25 per cent rise over two but union members refused, according to the employee.

Strikers countered by asking for a 6 per cent pay rise in the first year and to bring their weekly work hours from 45 hours to 39.

The furious employee also claimed their employer is playing down the strikes.

They warned that WFS is hiring temporary workers who are being rushed through training, in an attempt to “cover up” the industrial actions.

“They’ve done this by bringing in the temp [workers]. They have hired seven temporary workers,” they added.

“They took them on recently because they thought we were going to strike over Easter and training-wise, they were rushed through.”

“They think they can get by with the temporary workers and those who aren’t on strike but it will be a mess.

“In busy seasons, you’re looking at about 220 to maybe 275 planes [to refuel] a day.”

UNITE stated that the refueller’s strike was expected to coincide with industrial action by employees of another company, Red Handling, where over 100 baggage handlers, check-in staff, and flight dispatchers were scheduled to stage another walkout.

“We are not being greedy – currently, we can’t book any holidays,” the employee continued.

“They are refusing us to book any because they’re worried about us going on strike, so they cancelled all holidays.”

“The company is being ass h*les to us.”

Out of the 48 employees at the company, only about five are thought to not take part in the action.

The WFS worker added: “Not all the workers are part of this.

“They won’t all be going on strike. There are five who are unlikely to join.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers at both companies have had enough of poor pay offers and appalling treatment from their employers and it is little surprise they are taking strike action.”

The Sun has reached out to Gatwick Airport and World Fuel Services for a comment.

MOLLY-MAE Hague has been accused of editing her latest bikini snap, with fans asking her ‘why?’ in the comments section.

The former Love Island star, 25, has shown off her tiny waist in a bikini top while wearing a £460 hat on a solo trip to Dubai.

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The mum-of-one has recently repaired her romance with boxer Tommy Fury after their split last August following reports he cheated on her on a lads’ holiday abroad.

And now, enjoying a solo break away, Molly has spared no expense on her lavish holiday while looking ultra chic in the process.

The mum-of-one looked beautiful as she showed off her very tiny waist, as she soaked up the sun.

Stylish Molly-Mae completed her look with some oversized trousers, which accentuated her small waist.

But fans were quick to fume over the “editing” that had allegedly been done to the bikini snap.

Reacting to the snaps, some fans pointed out what they thought had been edited, and others slammed the “filtered and edited” post.

“Too bad your editing your body like this…,” penned one person, complete with an unhappy face.

“What size are you meant to be in this filtered and edited Instagram post? The trousers look ridiculous with the bikini. They are to big for you for a start,” said a second.

A third person asked: “Anyone else think this is edited as since she’s had Bambi she’s always said she hates exercise and only starting eating well last week on her vlog?”

Despite the critique over the alleged editing the photo had undergone, most comments were positive and consisted of fans swooning over Molly’s chic look.

“Wow, the most stunning. You really suit blue,” penned one adoring fan.

Another then said: “Jaw on the floor.”

While a third swooned over the Miu Miu hat she donned, which would have set her back upwards of £400.

BACK WITH TOMMY

Since the New Year, Tommy and Molly have slowly been rebuilding their relationship.

In the new trailer for her Behind It All series on Prime Video that was released this week, she revealed that things are back on track.

Following the split, Tommy admitted to having a drinking problem which led him to go through a spell of wild partying and experience drunken blackouts.

Earlier this month, Molly gave candid update in her YouTube vlog, saying the pair are “just figuring things out”.

She revealed she was spending time between her home and Tommy’s after he moved out of their £3.5m Cheshire pad.

Molly said: “I’m not actually at my house, I’m at Tommy’s house.

“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot today about how I skipped a massive chapter in everything that went on with mine and Tommy’s break-up.

“Basically I don’t know if you guys remember but just before we split up, I kept talking about how we were going to have a big change as a family and no one knows about it, and basically we were in the process of moving house.”

She continued: “My whole house got completely packed up and we moved over into this house, and I don’t know why but now is the right time to open up.”

Molly explained that after the breakup, she temporarily moved back into her original home – but only briefly.

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“When Tommy and I split up I moved back to the original house so I moved for a short amount of time, like not even long enough to tell you guys, and I was just about to tell you but then sadly our relationship ended,” she said.

“It was even more of a hard time than anyone realised because my house was completely empty. I had people coming to view it to rent it. So yeah I moved house and no one knew. So that was all going on among everything. It was a lot of turmoil. It was shambles.”

She added: “The point is I have been spending a little more time recently back at the house I moved into, and I just want to be transparent about it because I probably will be vlogging here a little bit. I don’t want to hide anything because that is not me.”

“It doesn’t mean anything, it might mean something, but I hope it doesn’t get read into too much. It is just life and we are just figuring things out.”

“Hopefully, in a dream world, I get to a place where I am permanently in this house and I guess this will make a little more sense as to why Zoe and Danny have moved into my house.”

Before her Dubai trip, the couple were pictured at Centre Parcs on a fun-filled mini-break with daughter Bambi, two.

The pair stayed at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, where on-site activities include climbing, cycling, crafting and adventure golf.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE’S goal against Wolves saw Man City go third in the table.

The Citizens took a huge step towards the Champions League as they racked up their seventh win on the bounce.

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And De Bruyne made history as he became the first player after Lionel Messi to reach 250 goal involvements under Pep Guardiola.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

THE Haludovo Hotel is one of many abandoned buildings along the Croatia’s glittering Adriatic coast – but this one has a particularly scandalous past.

Amongst all the casinos and party hotels, the Haludovo was notorious for being the haven of hedonism.

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The opulent estate had 17 tennis courts, a mini football pitch and mini-golf, as well as waterski, paragliding and diving centres.

One of America’s most notorious porn barons, Bob Guccione, dreamt up and funded the hotel throughout its 1970s heyday – when it was known as the palace of “Peace and Porn”.

He brought in corset-clad hostesses, which he called “Penthouse Pets“, who would walk the halls and serve guests champagne.

Many rich and famous names indulged in the glamour, even including Sadam Hussein – Iraq’s violent dictator of 24 years.

Hussein enjoyed gold-standard service when he came walked through the doors of the Haludovo, and would always stay in the master suite.

The once-plush pad is now a graffiti-coated ruin, with crumbling walls and smashed windows.

Many curious tourists still visit the site on the island of Krk to photograph the deteriorating shell and wonder at the things that went on between the walls.

Guccione founded the Penthouse Magazine, which was the first American publication to feature full-frontal nudity.

He dreamed of building a lavish resort in Malinska, Krk, filled with luxury hotels and a grand casino, to attract a wealthy American pleasure-seekers.

He opened it up in 1972 in socialist Yugoslavia – which was largely ignored by the States.

This was a savvy business move, because casinos were untaxed.

Locals were banned from gambling in them, so they existed only to serve foreign tourists.

Guccione hoped that wealthy American tourists would flock to Krk to gamble away their money at his hotel.

He also planned to hire only locals so that he could avoid American employment regulations.

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In a 1972 interview with Radio Free Europe, Guccione vowed his resort would be the “real formula in the struggle against the cold war”.

He claimed it would help relations to have Americans visiting the socialist country and enjoying themselves.

The porn king invested a whopping $45million, £296m in today’s currency, into the development of the property and the casino.

One of Croatia‘s most celebrated architects, Boris Magaš, was drafted in to design the complex.

The building’s style was strikingly modern, and is now considered a classic example of brutalism.

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It took four years to build, and The Haludovo Palace Hotel and Penthouse Adriatic Club Casino opened in 1972 to great fanfare.

A 1972 ad for Haludovo in Penthouse magazine described the resort as a “mile-long Xanadu of glittering buildings [that] will become for international cognoscenti a premier playground for summer and winter seasons alike”.

Guests gobbled 100kg of lobster, 5kg of caviar and hundreds of bottles of champagne each day of its lively first year.

The resort bloomed into a hub for global dictators and politicians, American weekend gamblers, the Yugoslav music scene, and ordinary citizens.

Who was Bob Guccione?

BOB Guccione was one of America’s most famous porn publishers.

He founded Penthouse magazine, which was the first publication in the US to feature photographs of full-frontal nudity.

Guccione considered himself an artist and took many of the photos for Penthouse himself.

The trademark of his brand of soft porn was to picture the naked model looking away from the camera – which Guccione described as the “philosophy of voyeurism”.

Founded in Britain in 1965, Penthouse made headlines across the Atlantic two decades later when it published unauthorised nude photos of Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America.

The controversy forced her to give up her crown, but the issue sold nearly six million copies and helped make Guccione one of America’s wealthiest men.

Guccione went on to squander a $400m fortune on unwise investments in the gambling and film industries.

He died in 2010 from cancer aged 79.

It’s hard to avoid traffic in Los Angeles, especially if you’re faced with a daily freeway commute. A playlist, podcast or phone call can help pass the time, but when you live in one of the best coffee cities in the world, a quick detour for caffeine comes in handy.

Crawling up the 110? A chilled latte from a quaint Chinatown coffee shop (ironically located across the street from where the movie “Rush Hour” was filmed) is an offramp away. Before you merge onto the Pacific Coast Highway, find a hip Santa Monica coffee roaster with a lineup of breakfast burritos.

Whether gridlocked on the 5 or inching toward the 405-101 interchange, skip the heavy traffic with 13 coffee shops conveniently located near L.A.’s major freeways.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” That’s one of Walt Disney’s most popular quotes, often used in the context of the theme park marvels imagined by the company he created.

Over the decades Walt Disney Imagineering, the secretive arm of the Walt Disney Co. devoted to theme park experiences, has dreamed up a room full of singing birds and flowers, brought to life a mini New Orleans, captured the idealism of space flight and re-envisioned modern transportation, to name just a few of its many varied accomplishments.

For its latest trick, Imagineering will attempt to resurrect a life of sorts, that is to fully animate a highly accurate robotic creation of one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century, Walt Disney himself. First unveiled last summer at the company’s fan convention D23, the goal, said Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro at the event, is to capture “what it would have been like to be in Walt’s presence.”

That means finding a middle ground between romanticism and realism.

Imagineers Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, left, and Tom Fitzgerald,\ are principals on “Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” which will debut in the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland on July 17. The show will feature a lifelike robotic figure of Walt Disney.

(Mike Pucher / Disneyland Resort)

On Wednesday morning, Imagineering previewed for a select group of media the upcoming show “Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” set to premiere July 17 to coincide with Disneyland’s official 70th anniversary, when it will temporarily displace an attraction centered on a robotic Abraham Lincoln. An early sculpt of what would become the animatronic was revealed, one complete with age spots on Disney’s hands and weariness around his eyes — Imagineers stressed their intent is faithful accuracy — but much of the attraction remains secretive. The animatronic wasn’t shown, nor did Imagineering provide any images of the figure, which it promises will be one of its most technically advanced.

Instead, Imagineering sought to show the care in which it was bringing Disney back to life while also attempting to assuage any fears regarding what has become a much-debated project among the Disney community. When D’Amaro unveiled “A Magical Life” last summer, he did so noting he had the support of the Disney family, singling out Disney’s grandnephew, Roy P. Disney, who was in the audience.

Yet soon a social media missive critical of the attraction from Walt’s granddaughter would go viral. It raised anew ethical questions that often surround any project attempting to capture the dead via technology, be it holographic representations of performers or digitally re-created cinematic animations, namely debates surrounding the wishes of the deceased and whether such creations are exploitative. “Dehumanizing,” wrote Joanna Miller in her Facebook post on the figure.

The animatronic somewhat represents a shift in thinking for the Walt Disney Co., as the majority of its robotic figures are representations of fictional characters or overly-saturated political figures such as those in Florida’s Hall of Presidents, in which new politicians are added while they are living. Arguably, the Walt Disney Co. first tested the public’s willingness to embrace a resurrected Disney via a holographic-like projection for its touring “Disney 100: The Exhibition,” which initially raised some eyebrows.

Longtime Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald, known for his work on beloved Disney projects such as Star Tours and the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster in Florida, said Wednesday that “A Magical Life” has been in the works for about seven years. Asked directly about ethical concerns in representing the deceased via a robotic figurine, Fitzgerald noted the importance of the Walt Disney story, not only to the company but to culture at large.

Disney Imagineers at work on the wardrobe of Walt Disney for the new animatronic show, “Walt Disney — A Magical Life.” Seen here is a close-up of the stitching of a logo for Palm Springs’ Smoke Tree Ranch, a favorite retreat of Disney’s. The locale will be represented on Disney’s tie.

(Mike Pucher / Disneyland Resort)

”His life story had been told in these other formats already,” Fitzgerald says, referencing the film “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream,” which currently airs at Florida’s Hollywood Studios. “What could we do at Disneyland for our audience that would be part of our tool kit vernacular but that would bring Walt to life in a way that you could only experience at the park? We felt the technology had gotten there. We felt there was a need to tell that story in a fresh way.”

Disneyland, in contrast to the company’s other parks around the globe, places a premium on historical attractions, in part because it’s the only park Disney walked in. The park’s patriarch even had a small apartment on Main Street, U.S.A., in which he would occasionally spend the night. After its initial run during the 70th celebration, “A Magical Life” will play in tandem with “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” thanks to a newly constructed revolving stage. A new pre-show gallery will feature a mini-re-creation of Disney‘s apartment and also unveil some never-before-seen artifacts, such as early master plans of Disneyland.

The figure, essentially, was created in part to anticipate criticism. Fitzgerald notes modern audiences, with the ability to zoom in on a character via smartphone, are far more discerning. The animatronic will aim to represent Disney in 1963. Disney died in 1966 at 65.

“He needs to be able to speak with his hands. Hands, very important,” Fitzgerald says. “When you watch Walt Disney talking, he’s very expressive with his hands when he talks. He also has expressive eyebrows, which many of you had heard about. When he speaks, he speaks with his eyebrows. … One of the things I discovered in watching the footage, he doesn’t blink when he speaks.” Thus, when animating the figure’s eye movements, Fitzgerald says, there was much discussion over his “blink profile,” ensuring it matched up with filmed footage.

Though the exact arc of the show, which will run about 17 minutes, wasn’t revealed, Fitzgerald and fellow Imagineer Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, who was instrumental in the recent reimagining of Disneyland’s Toontown, noted that all dialogue will be taken directly from Disney’s speeches. The setting will be in Disney’s office, and for much of the show Disney will be leaning on his desk, although the figure was teased as being able to stand up.

Fitzgerald and Shaver-Moskowitz note that they researched Disney’s shoe size, looked at molds of his hands and even attempted — and failed — to find out which hair products Disney used. He will be wearing a tie emblazoned with the logo for Palm Springs’ Smoke Tree Ranch, a favorite retreat of Disney’s.

“We didn’t order an animatronic to look like Walt,” Shaver-Moskowitz says. “We built a Walt animatronic to deliver a performance that was specifically Walt.”

Veteran Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald reviews storyboards associated with “Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” which launches July 17 at Disneyland. The show will include a robotic figure of Walt Disney as well as a short film.

(Mike Pucher / Disneyland Resort)

Yet can any animatronic capture the essence of a human, even a theatrical interpretation of one?

“You could never get the casualness of his talking,” Disney’s granddaughter Miller wrote in her post. While those who know the Disney family have confirmed the veracity of the post, attempts to reach Miller have been unsuccessful. Members of the Walt Disney family are said to be divided, with many supporting the animatronic and some others against it, say those in the know who have declined to speak on the record for fear of ruining their relationships.

“He was so fascinated with technology, and also the intersection between technology and art,” says Kirsten Komoroske, executive director of the Walt Disney Family Museum, of Disney. Multiple descendants of Disney’s sit on various boards that the Family Museum is associated with, and Komoroske says those working with the institution have pledged their support of the animatronic. “They really feel that he would have liked this project.”

Others who knew Disney, such as legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr, the designer of the Disneyland Monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and more, as well as a pivotal collaborator on the Lincoln figure, have confirmed that they have seen the animatronic but have chosen not to discuss it. “I am embargoed,” Gurr told The Times, adding only that the public would have “quite a reaction.”

Imagineers were asked about Miller’s comments. Dusty Sage, executive editor of Disney fan site Micechat, told the audience he has spoken with Miller and her primary concern was that Disney never wanted to be turned into a robotic figure.

“In all our research, we never found any documentation of Walt saying that,” Shaver-Moskowitz says. “We know that it’s anecdotal and we can’t speak to what was told to people in private and we can’t speak to Joanna’s specific feelings about the project. But we have worked very diligently for many years with the Walt Disney Family Museum and members of the Disney and Miller family. … We’ve taken care to make sure that the family is along the journey with us and we feel that we’ve presented a faithful and theatrical presentation that keeps Walt alive in the medium that he pioneered.”

The Walt Disney Co. has made a significant effort over the years to mythologize Disney. Statues of Disney can be found at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and trinkets bearing his image, including an ornament of the latter, can occasionally be spotted for sale in the park’s gift shops. The reality of who Disney was has arguably become obscured.

“Walt Disney — A Magical Life” will walk a fine line when it opens, attempting to inspire a new generation to look into Disney’s life while also portraying him as more than just a character in the park’s arsenal.

“Why are we doing this now?” Fitzgerald says. “For two reasons. One is Disneyland’s 70th anniversary is an ideal time we thought to create a permanent tribute to Walt Disney in the Opera House. The other: I grew up watching Walt Disney on television. I guess I’m the old man. He came into our living room every week and chatted and it was very casual and you felt like you knew the man. But a lot of people today don’t know Walt Disney was an individual. They think Walt Disney is a company.”

And now nearly 60 years after his death, Disney will once again grace Main Street, whether or not audiences — or even some members of his family — are ready to greet him.

THEY are social media’s hottest couple and fans were delighted when Molly-Mae Hague FINALLY confirmed she had reunited with Tommy Fury this week .

After months of playing cat and mouse with the media to avoid being pictured together – despite The Sun capturing them snogging on New Year’s Eve – the influencer waited to reveal the news on her new Amazon docuseries.

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It was a smart move that compounded Molly-Mae’s power as one of Britain’s most shrewd influencers for, despite the heartache of their break-up, the couple’s split has seen interest in them soar at a time they were launching new projects.

Now Molly-Mae and Tommy have been revealed as the UK’s fifth richest TV couple with a combined wealth of £13million.

She has her own clothing range, homeware and fake tan, is brand ambassador for Pretty Little Thing and has an ongoing deal with Starbucks.

This week she signed a deal worth £1million with Beauty Works while her TV show and business ventures boosted the coffers by around £6million.

Tommy, brother of Tyson Fury, is worth £3million, earns around £1.6million a fight and has a contract with M&S worth £150,000.

Even two-year-old daughter Bambi is getting in on the act, starring in a new brand campaign for Persil and Comfort, said to have netted the family seven figures.

According to Daily Mail analysis the influencer and boxer, who met on Love Island in 2019, are even richer than telly golden couple Tess Daly and Vernon Kay, estimated to be worth £11.5million. 

They are pipped to fourth spot by Rochelle and Marvin Humes, worth £15.1million between them, while actress Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright take the top spot at £20million.

The influencer and boxer, both 25, broke up last August amid rumours he cheated and Tommy later admitted to struggling with booze.

Shortly after, Molly-Mae took to Instagram to announce her new fashion brand Maebe while Tommy was busy promoting his autobiography – sparking online speculation their split was all a publicity stunt.

She vehemently denied the accusation in January after The Sun exclusively revealed a photo of the pair snogging at a New Year’s party.  

In March, eagle-eyed fans spotted the couple were on holiday in Dubai together – despite posting separate, strikingly similar pictures on their Instagram pages.  

It’s likely that Amazon bosses behind her new Prime Video show Molly-Mae: Behind It All were keen to get an exclusive take on their big break-up.

Publicity stunt?

Speaking in January, Molly-Mae, known for her sharp business acumen, denied the split was orchestrated to earn big bucks.

She called out stunt rumours at the launch of her show saying: “I think that for me above everything else that (the speculation) has been the most frustrating part because I actually say in the documentary, I wish it was a publicity stunt because it would be a lot easier, because going through all of this with the turmoil of a breakup has been incredibly hard.

“And I think to have those comments – and I do see the comments, I see all of them – like people saying, you know, this has obviously been done for the launch of a brand or publicity stunt, that is very painful to read because it’s real life.”

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Molly-Mae continued: “You know, Tommy and I have a baby together and it’s very, very real, and it’s really, it’s a really hard thing that we’ve both gone through the last six months.

“I think the documentary will clear up any questions.

“You see a real, real side to it, and it’s kind of like you’re a bit vulnerable, and like I say, I think people will be surprised by how honest we’ve been.”

Fans were blindsided when Molly Mae announced the pair had split on Instagram last summer amid claims he had cheated on a lad’s holiday in Macedonia.

Five months later The Sun’s Clemmie Moodie broke the story that the couple were back together after our exclusive images showed them sharing a kiss at a New Year’s party at the Cheshire home of Man Utd star Luke Shaw.

Most nights I would drink to get black-out drunk. I think that’s what really took its toll on me

Tommy Fury

The celebrity pair were careful not to be pictured together looking loved-up as they continued to co–parent baby Bambi – paving the way for Molly-Mae to tell all in her new show, which airs on May 9.

Cheating denial

Tommy denied cheating on his partner saying: “I think if you were going to cheat on someone you should just sit down and say, ‘I don’t love you any more’, clearly, because you want to go and pursue other people.

“When you get to that stage, I think you should just call it a day.

“If you want to go there and have affairs with women then you definitely shouldn’t be with your partner. Definitely not. And have I ever reached that point? No.”

Tommy later blamed the split on his  alcohol addiction saying: “Most nights I would drink to get black-out drunk. I think that’s what really took its toll on me.”

The couple, who live in a £4.5 mansion, might be back together but there could be more drama to come.

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In a trailer for her documentary, Molly-Mae’s big sister Zoe grills her on her relationship with Tommy asking: “Have you actually addressed the problems?”

The influencer replies: “One hundred per cent.”

However, Molly-Mae is also filmed saying: “Things are looking like they are heading in a good direction but by tomorrow could it all be destroyed again?”

Whatever happens in their relationship there’s no doubt that, with so much intrigue surrounding the pair, the cash will continue to pour in.

THIS was the moment when a Coronation Street fan favourite quit the Cobbles in an emotional goodbye.

But in true ITV soap fashion, a shock twist was dramatically revealed at the end of the episode.

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Charlotte Jordan, 30, first joined Coronation Street as Daisy Midgley in 2020.

After five years, she chose to leave the soap and now her departure was finally revealed on-screen.

In recent scenes, Daisy watched her mother Christina (Amy Robbins) confess her plan to scam Jenny (Sally Anne Matthews) out of £60K.

She was going to run off with her lover into the sunset abroad without a thought for Jenny or even her own daughter.

So Daisy informed the police and coerced her pal Kit (Jacob Roberts) to keep her mum in custody for the night so she could work out her plan.

Despite Jenny bursting into tears when she begged her to stay, Daisy insisted that she needed to go to Brighton for a fresh start.

However, after Amy was released, she argued with Jenny and they both realised the extent of Daisy’s scheme.

The episode ended with Daisy using the money to do good deeds for those in her life by giving them written notes as a parting gift.

She supplied a dying Julie (Katy Cavanagh) with a wad of cash as she apologised for ‘ruining her fundraiser’.

Kit had a large bottle of whisky by his desk as she thanked him for making her smile and for keeping her mum in the cell for the night.

On-off lover Daniel (Rob Mallard) was in tears as he hugged his son Bertie as Daisy revealed that she gave them tickets for a dream trip to Disneyland.

At the back of the Rovers, Jenny was in tears as she lost everything, although Daisy was apologetic and she sank a bottle of wine.

Her voiceover read the letter out loud as she explained: “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

But there was one last twist in store as Daisy was in the cab and ready to start her new life away from Weatherfield.

Coronation Street’s 2024 shock exits

Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let’s break down who’s left the famous soap:

Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.

The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.

Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.

After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.

Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.

Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.

Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.

Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.

The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.

Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.

Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.

It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.

Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.

Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.

The camera panned down to her phone to reveal that she is not going to Brighton, but instead she’s fleeing the country entirely.

Daisy used the money to book a one way trip to Bali, and viewers last saw her pull down her sunglasses as she was the one to drive off into the sunset.

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Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.

British tourists arriving at Lanzarote airport face an “uncomfortable and chaotic experience” amidst calls for urgent action.

The island’s own president, Oswaldo Betancort, made the admission and is now demanding a top-level meeting with the Spanish airport authority, AENA, following a period of turbulence at the travel hub. He says there are insufficient police on duty at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, which is the tenth in the country by volume of passengers and the third in the Canary Islands, with nearly 800,000 passengers in March alone.

The airport has been the subject of numerous complaints in recent years, both for the time it takes to get luggage and then to go through passport controls. Tourists say this takes about an hour and is followed by another lengthy wait for a taxi. Queues often snake around the concourse as passengers with their suitcases wait for more taxis to arrive.

READ MORE: Two major Spanish destinations confirm plan to cap tourist numbers

One holidaymaker recently back in the UK after a break in Lanzarote said: “We were very shocked at the taxi situation at the airport. It took us about an hour to get through passports and to collect our luggage, so we were looking forward to getting to our hotel.

“However, we were shocked to find a really massive queue at the taxi rank which literally snaked around the concourse. We had absolutely no choice but to join that queue, which must have been at least 300 people. It took us 55 minutes in total to get a taxi, which did nothing for our mood or Lanzarote’s reputation! When we asked a taxi driver what the problem was, he said there were not enough taxis to cope with the number of arrivals. The time, we must point out, was 7.30pm, so probably not even the busiest time of the day.”

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Local residents agree there is a “significant mismatch” between supply and demand and that something needs to be done. The authorities say creating a digitalised service is the way ahead, which is why it is opening a round of talks with the taxi association.

Of the lack of police officers at the airport, Mr Betancort said:” It is unacceptable that residents and visitors have to endure long waits due to insufficient staff at security checkpoints. More human and material resources are needed to guarantee efficient operation.”

There are currently plans to expand the airport, to improve operational efficiency and quality of service. According to the Airport’s Master Plan, the objective is to expand and remodel Terminal 1 to improve quality, also expanding the check-in, boarding and security control areas. Likewise, terminals 1 and 2 will also be connected in the boarding area, once the security control has been passed.

The Mirror’s Victoria Chessum recently traveled through Lanzarote Airport and experienced some of the chaos. She wrote: “I visited Lanzarote out of peak-season, and therefore ignorantly expected the airport to at least be manageable in terms of queues. While checking-in was super easy, along with bag-drop, navigating the small and disproportionate terminal building was not. Armed with a sleepy toddler, a pram, and a few hand luggage bags, the whole experience quickly escalated into something of a nightmare.”

Watermouth Castle in north Devon is a pixie and fairy-lover’s dream destination – and there’s a hidden gem around the back that would leave all families ecstatic

Nestled in the heart of Devon’s northern coastline lies Watermouth Castle – a renovated Victorian country house that was believed to be home to dozens of faries and pixies… according to one of its earliest inhabitants.

The Ilfracombe castle sits at the top of a hill, overlooking a picturesque harbour full of colourful fishing and sailing boats. Although it might look like any other landmark from the outside, it holds a big secret tourist hotspot in its gardens – an incredibly retro family theme park.

It features vintage arcade and pier machines, water gardens overflowing with hand-crafted toadstools, and even a metal makeshift water clock that decapitates a tin man at 1pm every day. Despite its obscure-sounding attractions, I – along with most other families, according to TripAdvisor – left the castle delighted, simply because my own little one had the best time.

The story behind Watermouth Castle’s quirky attraction comes from the only child of its Victorian inhabitants’ – a young girl called Edith Penderford. The Penderford family lived in the newly-built castle in the mid to late 1800s, and most of the modern day castle’s collections were retrieved by “kooky” Profession P Penderford, the castle’s own literature revealed.

READ MORE: Two major Spanish destinations confirm plan to cap tourist numbers

Edith claimed to see fairies and pixies living around the castle, and even became friends with them. She wrote in her diary, at the time: “I saw my first fairy when I was seven years old.

“The kids in the village didn’t believe me. Horace Whittingsby said I’m full of tall tales, just like my father. Mildred Jones said that things like fairies and pixies existed, scientists would’ve found them by now. But I think the scientists just haven’t been looking hard enough. Magic things like to stay secret. Only a few poeple are meant to see them. That’s what makes them magic.”

Fast-forward 110 years or so, and the castle is transformed into an incredible family theme park, centred around Edith’s magical beliefs in pixies and fairies.

To even make it into the theme park grounds, you take a wild trip through time inside the main castle function rooms. Relics from the past greet you in every room, featuring funky metallic ornaments, a giant train set, and even a mechanical brass orchestra blaring out some iconic modern-day songs we’ve all come to know and love.

The final stop before heading out to the theme park is a cute ‘Water Show Extravaganza’, where 1,000 jets of water dance to synchornised lights and music. My little one tried her best to clap along as the 1920s organ blared out ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ – before obviously doing her best to jump into the water (she thankfully didn’t).

After a short trek around the castle grounds, you’ll end up at the main attraction – a toddlers’ version of Thorpe Park. There’s a big river ride – which is kind of like a river rapids-type ride, except without the rapids – classic spinning cooking pots. We particularly enjoyed the ‘Sea Lion Water-Go-Round’ ride, which is similar to the iconic Disneyland Dumbo ride.

My 18-month-old daughter was remarkably mesmorised by the very blue water while she was going around and around. We also spent about 20 minutes sat watching her run around the topsy-turvy Rolling Bridge again and again… and again.

It’s basically a small corridor with one door in and one door out, complete with a little bridge connecting each side of the room. But, the entire room spins around with funky strobe lights, which is supposed to leave you feeling all wobbly.

All of the attractions are built on the side of a big hill, with two giant, interconnecting playgrounds at the very top. Multiple huge wooden structures spread out over a 60-70m stretch, with numerous tube slides to keep littles ones entertaining for hours.

If being dragged up and down ladders/slides (…and then up and down, up and down etc.) isn’t enough, you can find a bizarre – yet weirdly fascinating – teddy bear collection tucked away in the corner. Hundreds of bears are chilling out in their own little cavern – some playing on see-saws, while others hang from the ceiling. Seen-to-be-believed.

Once you’ve finished exploring the theme park, you might choose to stay inside Watermouth Castle to avoid those pesky rush hour queues to get home. If you do decide to stay at the castle, you’re in for a treat. There are seven self-catered apartments available, with the largest holding up to six people – the Rhododendron suite.

This apartment has three huge bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a separate upstairs annexe. Its communal living room features a massive smart TV, so we could log into Netflix and let the little one watch Shaun The Sheep while she had her breakfast. It’s also got a perfectly-sized kitchen with all the amenities you’d need, as well as some essential foods and drinks to see you through.

Castle guests will also have access to the on-site swimming pool, which is contained in its own little poolhouse. Toddling outside across the pavement to the pool was strangely one of my daughter’s highlights – the novelty of something new.

Four of Watermouth Castle’s seven apartments have recently been renovated, including the Rhododendron. It’s now got a plush corner sofa that fits six people, as well as a very large wooden dining table.

The maroon-coloured rug in the middle of the floor is particularly soft for your feet – especially after a long day of walking. You’ll also find several cartoon pictures of animals dotted around the apartment too, including two very large rabbits kissing above the dining table.

The little one also enjoyed reading the story of a pelican munching on a fish, which is embedded in stained glass on one of the windows. She didn’t really understand it, but she liked the colours.

Book it

Watermouth Castle is open this year until Sunday November 2 – get in while you still can. Day tickets cost £19 for adults, £5 for children.

A BRITISH-made stealth jet has broken the world record for the longest continuous flight, spending 67 days in the sky.

That’s the equivalent of 1,608 hours – enough time to watch every episode of Top Gear, Love Island and Strictly Come Dancing that has ever aired in the UK.

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In fact, it’s more than enough time, with Top Gear boasting 518 hours’ worth of content across 33 seasons, Love Island’s 390 hours and Strictly with a whopping 635 hours.

A total of 1,543 hours.

The unmanned plane, known as Aalto Zephyr, flew for more than two months from Kenya to Australia before being plunged into the Indian Ocean.

The flight beat a record held by two American pilots for over 50 years.

In 1959, Robert Timm and John Cook flew a Cessna Skyhawk continuously for 64 days and 22 hours in Nevada.

That record has now been bested by a British jet, built by Airbus at its facilities in Farnborough, Hampshire.

British defence company QinetiQ originally developed the project, before selling it off to Airbus in 2013.

The Zephyr is a drone-like aircraft with a wingspan of 85ft, and weighs just 75kg.

It has been hailed for its abilities for near ‘endless flight’, with it using solar power to charge its propellers during the day.

At night, the craft glides and loses altitude slightly as the batteries drain, until the morning sun recharges them.

The Zephyr can operate as a spy plane, carrying powerful cameras and sensors for Earth surveillance.

But it can also provide 4G and 5G communications, acting like a mobile mast in the sky. 

It is designed to fly above 60,000ft, making it well suited for delivering communications to remote areas.

The aircraft’s longest previous mission was a 64-day flight in 2022.

“With this new world-record flight, we have pushed the boundaries again for the burgeoning HAPS industry and aviation globally with a solar-powered, stratospheric aircraft,” Aalto CEO Hughes Boulnois said in a statement.

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The holiday hotspots have stated that their ‘”residents are the priority nowadays”, and have hinted at capping tourist numbers.

Palma de Majorca and Barcelona, two tourist hotspots in Spain, have confirmed their plans to cap visitor numbers due to overtourism and its impact on residents.

Addressing residents’ concerns at the Spain Talks conference on sustainability that was organised by the Spanish Tourist Office in London, the heads of tourism of Barcelona and Palma de Majorca said: “Let’s not be afraid to discuss limits.”

The managing director of Palma de Majorca Tourism, Pedro Homar, said: “Residents are our priority nowadays. We slashed marketing budgets in the last three to four years.” Addressing tour operators, he said: “I’m sorry for that. Limits are good. Let’s not be afraid to discuss limits.”

READ MORE: ‘I was urged to avoid a holiday to this popular Italian city – but I went anyway’READ MORE: Warning over Spain holiday rule that could see you banned from entering for three years

Mateu Hernandez, the Barcelona Tourism director general agreed and said: “We’re 100% the same in Barcelona. The city began to do this – no more hotels, no more tourism flats, no more cruises, no more tour groups.”

Hernandez went on to note that there has been no increase in tourist numbers in 2024 — which stand at 15 million, the same as 2023 — and said: “This is not failure. This is what we’re looking for, Travel Weekly reports. We don’t want visitors to feel crowded.”

Hernandez further added: “Our challenge is to answer the question – can tourism save us from tourism? This is the key question.” He insisted that the residents of Barcelona “want this balance”.

Calling the protests against tourism “sad”, Hernandez insisted: “It’s a minority who don’t want tourism. We want to prioritise who is sleeping on beds [in the city]. Our key priorities are conferences and events – we’re investing €400 million in infrastructure for conferences – and culture.”

Homar said during the conference: “We have a cap of 12,000 beds in the city – 95% in four and five-star hotels. We hardly have two and three-star hotels. We are positioning ourselves as more upscale and cosmopolitan. We limit daily cruises. We want to manage the destination. We’re not in the business of marketing the destination.”

Jaime Martinez, the Mayor of Palma de Majorca, said: “We have to control the number of visitors. We want Palma to be a reference point in the travel market.”

Ian Corbett, Tui’s head of sustainability, said: “Tui wants to be part of the solution. Destinations have their limits and it’s for destinations to decide what tourism they want and how much. It’s important we put as little additional strain on destinations as we can. It’s about well-planned, well-executed, controlled tourism, not about exclusion.”

Mass protests against overtourism are all set to take place across popular holiday destinations in Europe this summer, with several demonstrations already held over the last couple of months, especially in Spain.

Recently, tourists aboard a sight-seeing bus in Barcelona were blocked and squirted with water by protesters. A protest was launched in the Northern Spanish city on Sunday by the organizers of many of the anti-tourism protests held in Majorca in 2024. The Catalan Police were called to intervene, when several of the campaigners blocked a bus that was ferrying tourists, close to the famous Sagrada Familia.

Brit holidaymakers have also been given a heads-up regarding their upcoming summer escapes, with local residents in top European destinations like Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal not dismissing the idea of targeting airport buildings to dissuade tourists.

The locals argue that unchecked tourism has driven up rental prices and stripped away affordable housing availability as properties are gobbled up for tourist accommodations and lands are bought out for resort development.

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This warning emerges just as loads of Brits line up their plans for some sun-soaked relaxation. At a demonstration in Barcelona, protestor Elena Boschi told the Mirror: “We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change.”

Significant disruptions can also be expected over the summer; a leader of the Spanish protests informed The Mirror that militant groups might obstruct not just airports but beaches and other beloved tourist draws too, as anti-tourist fury intensifies in Spain.

A protest frontman, referred to here as Lucas due to his condition of anonymity, communicated his caution that demonstrators could escalate their tactics if they continue to be sidelined. He said: “The general mood is one of growing frustration, indignation, and despair. People feel that they are being expelled from their own land and that their fundamental rights are not being protected. People have had enough.

“There is a widespread feeling that the situation has reached a breaking point and that it is necessary to act urgently and decisively to reverse it. The patience of the citizenry is running out. We are not going to stand idly by while we see our homes and our lives threatened by speculation and an uncontrolled tourism model.”

North Somerset Council has been cracking down on the parking issues around the Bristol Airport that have been causing issues for the community and holiday makers

Holidaymakers using Bristol Airport have returned to find their cars damaged and with unexplained mileage after parking in unofficial ‘airport’ car parks.

The local council has now stepped up efforts to clamp down on this practice, which has been “blighting” the countryside and causing problems for locals. North Somerset Council’s intervention follows concerns that fields near Bristol Airport were being used as makeshift car parks for thousands of vehicles. This was not only causing issues for the local community but also impacting holidaymakers who were unaware their cars were being left at these “unauthorised” sites.

Some of these vehicles had even been abandoned in the open on local roads without any security measures in place. Bristol Airport funds a Planning and Parking Enforcement officer to address the parking issues around the airport. In June last year, the airport contributed £50,000 towards hiring an officer for 12 months, with an additional £50,000 set to follow to ensure the role.

READ MORE: Ryanair tells passengers to pack ‘last-minute’ item in their hand luggage

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Among the successful actions taken by the officers was the clearing of a plot near Hyatts Wood Road, which had been overrun with parked cars. Thanks to council intervention, this agricultural field, capable of accommodating 1,500 cars, has now been cleared.

Enforcement notices were issued at 10 different fields, meaning these sites have permitted development rights but can only be used for a maximum of 28 days per year. After this period, usage would become a criminal offence.

These include: A field near Newditch Farm, which can park up to 560 cars; Land south of Bridgwater Road, which can hold over 1,900 cars; Land west of Bridle Cottage, which can accommodate more than 900 cars.

Additional probes have been conducted at a number of alternative sites. Part of this included halting parking on a parcel of land, which has now been restored to its previous state and settling an agreement that demands the replanting of three protected trees that were felled pre-2014 to make room for parking.

Earlier this year, North Somerset Council’s Trading Standards bods urged passengers jetting off from Bristol Airport to keep their wits about them when securing airport parking online due to dodgy dealings by these unscrupulous car park operators.

This caution followed a series of gripes relating to local car parking services that had left holiday-goers high and dry and their motors in jeopardy. Fuming customers who availed themselves of such services came back to find the companies couldn’t locate their vehicles, be it temporarily or in some cases, permanently lost.

Council hotshot Matt Lenny, director of healthy and sustainable communities, stressed: “It’s all about making sure you’re confident that the provider is good before you start and it’s all about what you do before you book. Read the terms and conditions, make sure you’ve looked at some of the reviews. We would ask people to look for the Park Mark, the symbol of the British Parking Association.”

Bristol Airport and the Council are set to hold a meeting with parish councillors to discuss areas of concern, with a further parking meeting scheduled later this month for representatives from all local parishes to address major hotspots.