Travelsphere launches new ‘Travelsphere Cares' projects
On applicable tours, guests are encouraged to visit enterprises that highlight and preserve the heritage of the region they are visiting.
New projects comprise:
* For 2025 departures, its 17-day Ultimate South Africa and 22-day Ultimate South Africa with Victoria Fall Add-On itineraries, will include a visit to The Good Work Foundation, a non-profit organisation that provides free training for local young people in the areas of technology, conservation and tourism and hospitality. Prices for the 17-day Ultimate South Africa start from £3,999pp; for the 22-day, from £5,648pp.
* In 2026, Travelsphere's 12-day Treasures of Turkey tour will now feature a visit to the Cöp(m)adam project, which was established to address issues of women's unemployment and highlight the importance of recycling. Its core focus is using waste materials to create fashionable accessories. Prices for the 12-day itinerary start from £1,799pp.
Charlotte Field, marketing director at Travelsphere, said: ''Travelsphere Cares' is fundamental to everything we do and these new projects demonstrate our commitment to supporting local enterprises and the communities we visit. By partnering with initiatives such as the Good Work Foundation and Cöp(m)adam, we're helping to make travel a force for good, creating lasting benefits for all.'
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Reuters
7 hours ago
- Reuters
South Africa seeks $500 million in forex funding after budget impasse ends
JOHANNESBURG, July 25 (Reuters) - South Africa's National Treasury has issued a call for "innovative foreign currency financing solutions", aiming to raise at least $500 million for the 2025/26 fiscal year, following parliament's resolution of a protracted budget impasse that had threatened fiscal stability. The Treasury's announcement on Friday follows the passage of the Appropriation Bill on July 23 by parliament's lower house, ending months of political deadlock among coalition partners. The African National Congress - which rules in a coalition government of national unity with the Democratic Alliance and smaller parties - abandoned a proposed VAT increase and President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed a minister accused of misconduct to secure Democratic Alliance support for departmental budgets. "This funding initiative aims to diversify the sovereign's hard currency funding toolkit beyond a traditional Eurobond, reduce execution risk and minimise the all-in cost of funds," the Treasury said, emphasizing its focus on liability management tailored to evolving market conditions. The Treasury is seeking proposals from a specific group of eligible counterparties: primary dealers in South African government securities, internationally active arranging banks, multilateral institutions, institutional investors, and other regulated financial entities with capacity to fund at scale. South Africa's move highlights the broader challenges faced by African countries in accessing affordable debt amid global economic uncertainty. Angola said this week it was pausing international borrowing plans, while the likes of Ghana, which has just come out of default, are looking to domestic investors for money. While Morgan Stanley data shows $154.2 billion in year-to-date sovereign issuance in emerging markets, much of that has been concentrated in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The Treasury plans to evaluate proposals for bilateral term loans, private placements of floating rate notes, repurchase agreements, cross-currency swaps, and structured notes. ESG-linked instruments are particularly encouraged, reflecting alignment with the $61.9 billion in ESG-labeled emerging market bond issuance so far this year. Proposals will be assessed based on cost of funds, execution speed, resilience to currency volatility, and compatibility with South Africa's debt maturity profile and service peaks. Submissions are due by August 6, with a decision expected by August 29. The Treasury reserved the right to accept or reject proposals, describing the initiative as exploratory rather than a committed borrowing program. May's budget projections revised the consolidated deficit to 4.8% of GDP, up from March's forecast of 4.6%, with gross debt expected to stabilize at 77.4% of GDP.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Plus size traveller explains why it's a waste of money to book an extra seat on a plane when she flies
A plus-sized woman has revealed the reasons why she doesn't book two seats when she catches a flight. Kirsty Leanne, 32, from Shropshire regularly shares tips on how to make travelling while plus-sized as easy as possible to her TikTok account, @kirstyleannetravels. She previously made headlines after revealing the trolling she receives online – with critics insisting she should lose weight rather than complain about the issues she faces travelling as a plus-sized person. Despite this, she has travelled all over the world - recently visiting Cappadocia in Turkey, Paris, Croatia and South Korea. But there's one thing Kirsty doesn't do when she jets off on her adventures - and that is booking a second seat when she catches a plane. Taking to TikTok, Kirsty explained that when she'd booked a second seat in the past, it had proven expensive, was difficult to organise, and in some occasions, her extra seat was even taken away from her. Kirsty, who was bumped up to business class because of her size on a recent flight, said: 'I'm plus size and here's why I don't book two seats every time I fly. 'One of the most common comments I receive on my videos is "I hope you booked two seats" and why I understand that seems like the right solution when it comes to small seats on planes, it's not a "one size fits all' issue."' Firstly, Kirsty says that booking two seats can be 'incredibly expensive' and, for many people, would be out of their budget to do so every time they travel - as it's effectively paying double the cost. She says it's also 'super tricky' to book an extra seat as each airline has a different process, and these aren't easy to find on their websites. Kirsty said: 'On numerous occasions, I have spoken to members of the team using support chats or their customer service line and they haven't understood what I was trying to do. 'A lot of the time, both check in and gate agents do not know you can book an extra seat, which often leads to confusion when it comes to the process.' She referenced one example when she did choose to buy an extra seat - and said staff didn't know what to do or how to process it. This meant the experience was 'incredibly anxious' for her as she didn't know if her extra seat reservation would be honoured. She's even experienced her extra seat being taken away from her completely. 'I've arrived at check-in desks to be told my second seat has been sold,' she said, adding: 'And had people share with me that their extra seats have been given to people on standby.' People were left divided in the comments, with some supporting Kirsty's decision - but others were worried it would impact the space of other passengers In addition, if there's an aircraft change at the last minute, the layout of the plane can change, meaning the two seats may not even be next to each other. Kirsty concluded: 'While I know booking a second seat works great for some, it's not a blanket solution for every single plus size person.' People were left divided in the comments, with some supporting Kirsty's decision - but others were worried it would impact the space of other passengers. One person asked: 'Would you like to sit next to you or someone the same size?' Kirsty responded: 'Yes i do regularly - my girlfriend is fat too.' Supporting Kirsty, one person said: 'Call me a radical but I don't think anyone should have to pay for a second seat that's f***ing bonkers people expect you to do that. Being fat is not a crime. 'Airplane seats are small. It's not just about fat people, tall people, old people, people with babies... many people need more room it's insane the standard set.' Another said: 'Girl i would have no issues siting next to you. I think airlines should start making their seats bigger anyway! They are ridiculously tiny.' A third added: 'This wouldn't even be an issue if airlines made their seats a reasonable size instead of trying to pack people like sardines in a can.' But others were more sceptical, saying it's 'selfish' to take up the extra room on a flight, without paying. One person said: 'I was sat next to a woman who should have bought 2 seats earlier this year she took a third of my seat causing me to have to lean the entire flight - my back hurt for three days after. If you cannot fit inside your seat then buy another. It's selfish to not.' Others said: 'Yes you deserve to travel, yes you have every right to be there and yes the airline should make sure you always have the second seat you've paid for BUT it's incredibly unfair and disrespectful to the person in the next seat if their neighbour is spilling into their seat'; 'Last time I flew I had two extremely large people and I had a middle seat. When I got to my seat, they were already seated. There was legit not room to fit in between. I ended up having to get another flight. 'When I book with my dog, I have to get another seat. Everyone deserves to fly but if it impacts others regardless the reason, then you should have to get an extra seat. I think offering a second seat at a discount should be acceptable'; 'Close quarters and touching knees is one thing, but if I paid for my plane ticket, I'm not sharing a third of my seat unless you're paying for a third of it.' Kirsty previously revealed she gets fat shamed on flights and has had people refuse to sit next to her in the past. While much of the criticism she receives is online, Kirsty shared some upsetting experiences she's had in real life. One such encounter was on a flight to Spain, where the travel buff was in the window seat, and another woman was assigned the middle seat on her aisle. When she saw me sat in the window, she instantly made it clear she didn't want to sit there and started huffing and puffing,' Kirsty, who shares her tips on her blog, Plus Size Travel Too, said. 'I apologised that there wasn't much room and she didn't reply, so I did my usual and squashed myself against the window. 'For the whole flight she was pushing the armrest as far down as she could – it was 98 percent down but that last 2 percent was super painful – and causing me to bruise. 'Eventually, she turned to her friend a few rows back [and said], "I can't sit next to her anymore". 'I pretended I didn't hear but I wanted the ground to swallow me up.' Kirsty found the experience incredibly awkward and chose to stay silent at the time, but says she will no longer let it slide. She said: 'I tend to ask flight attendants if I can move to a seat with more room and an extra seat next to it now, to help prevent this from happening and to ensure everyone is as comfortable as they can be. 'Often I do have to sit next to people while they find me a seat so I do my best to be kind and understanding, in the hopes they return with the same sentiments.' The traveller also says she can often tell when someone isn't pleased to be seated near her. She added: 'People usually make it known they're unhappy pretty instantly. 'Most people are super friendly and understanding, but some people use it as an excuse to be mean and to lash out. 'While I understand it's uncomfortable, acting in that way is unnecessary and likely to be the worst way to come to a solution.' Luckily, Kirsty doesn't let the hate stop her from sharing her advice. 'Whenever I post content about flying while plus size, I always get the same comments – 'Why don't you just lose weight?' 'Isn't this a wake up call?', 'You should be so ashamed of yourself',' Kirsty, who shares tips on her blog, PlusSizeTravelToo, said. 'The truth is, however, that fat people exist and they will always exist. 'We have just as much of a right to travel as anyone else does and we deserve to be safe and comfortable while we travel. Seatbelt extenders, of course, help to keep us safe. 'I share a lot of content about seat belt extenders but I know that a lot of people don't know that you often can't use one in an emergency exit. 'I get a lot of questions about this so I wanted to share a video letting people know, as I know a lot of people have experienced this after boarding and have been moved as a result. 'Travelling as a plus size person can be incredibly daunting and overwhelming and so I wanted to show people that look like me that it's possible. 'My life changed when I started to travel and after telling myself for so long that I was too fat to travel, I realised I didn't want anyone else to put off travel like I did. 'If my tips and tricks help just one person, it will be a job well done.'
The Sun
9 hours ago
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Seven MILLION people laughed at my £3.6k Turkey teeth & said I had the ‘perfect' smile before – but I want to look fake
TAKING a selfie of her sparkling new teeth, Georgie McKenzie catches sight of the notifications building up on her phone. While she might be thrilled with her pearly white Turkey teeth, they have attracted a barrage of serious online hate, with many people dumbfounded as to why she overhauled her original smile. 8 8 8 But it isn't just faceless trolls who are targeting the 21-year-old Virgin Atlantic air hostess - professional dentists have been left speechless and branded her an "idiot" for jetting off for the bargain surgery. Georgie paid £3,600 for the procedure, after feeling unhappy with her natural smile and being quoted £20,000 in the UK. She told The Sun: 'I've always been extremely unhappy with my natural smile – my natural teeth were discoloured and very happy. ' Treatment in Turkey seemed to achieve perfect white teeth, compared to the UK, where the outcome is always quite natural. 'Now, I'm really happy with how they turned out. They're better than I ever imagined. 'I wanted perfect, straight white teeth – and that is exactly what I got.' It's estimated that 150,000 to 200,000 UK residents travel to Turkey annually for cosmetic dental procedures, according to UK Smiles. The trend is driven by typically lower costs, but it comes with potential risks such as botched procedures, nerve damage and the need for corrective work back in Britain. Georgie is thrilled with the results, but people online have been less supportive after she shared pictures of the transformation in a TikTok that has gone viral, garnering seven million views. There, she received an influx of comments criticising her choice – including from people who identified themselves as dentists – with some trolls saying she is 'stupid' and needs 'mental help'. I cried as my £4.5k Turkey teeth were fitted - now trolls say my smile's ruined Georgie, who lives in Gloucestershire, says: 'The people commenting are trying to bring me down and make me ashamed of what I've done, but I've never felt more confident in myself. 'When people saw the final results, they got quite nasty. Saying I'm 'stupid, dumb, have a low IQ, need mental help'. 'They not only went for my teeth but started saying things such as 'You can tell she's British' or that I had dodgy lip fillers. I'm genuinely not bothered about the comments at all.' 'You're an idiot' Georgie documented the process of flying to Turkey for the procedure earlier this month, including having her natural teeth filed down to resemble 'baby shark teeth'. She then had 20 monolithic crowns in the shade 'extra white' inserted over the top to create her new smile. 8 8 But trolls have piled in with criticism. One person commented: 'I am a dentist. You are an idiot!' Another reported professional wrote: 'As a dentist, the GASP I GASPED is unreal. I've lost all my words for this.' Another user called the result 'catastrophic', while someone else, who also identified themselves as a dentist, said they were 'heartbroken' and urged her to seek a quality control check with her usual dentist. 'Your teeth were so straight and beautiful to start,' another person commented. Someone else wrote: 'I genuinely think dentists should have to refuse to shave down perfectly healthy teeth.' 'The fact you had perfect teeth before,' said another user. Dentist to the stars, Dr Richard Marques, previously told The Sun that Turkey teeth are not the best way to achieve a pearly white smile. The Harley Street dentist is the man behind the smiles of many high-profile celebrities, including Rita Ora, Dua Lipa, Chloe Sims, and Joey Essex. Discussing the implications of 'Turkey teeth', he explained: 'Short-term implications of travelling abroad to achieve the 'Turkey teeth' look include exposed nerves, which can cause intense pain, sore and swollen gums and infections. 'The long-term applications of not understanding what the entire procedure entails before fully committing to the procedure abroad are chronic pain, sensitive teeth, rotting teeth and ill-fitted veneers falling off.' 8 8 He explained that because the procedure is done 'cheaper', it doesn't 'require extensive dental expertise.' Dr Richard added: 'Teeth are consequently being filed down much more than they would be for correctly fitted veneers. 'Although it can be understood that many look to this option due to affordability, it's worth noting that there are various options available in the UK - do your research into what your local dentists offer and seek a recommendation from them regarding what you're looking for.' 'Bad influence' However, Georgie insists she was never happy with her natural smile, and had previously had composite bonding on her teeth – but still wasn't satisfied. She loves the fake look and 'isn't surprised' that the reaction online has been so strong. She said: 'People have this massive stigma around going abroad for cosmetic work. 'I completely understand people giving advice, but it's crazy how much people are so invested in commenting on other people's appearance. Dentist-approved teeth whitening tips ERIN Fraundorf, DMD, MSD, owner of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio in Missouri, shared her top tips for whiter teeth. Seek whitening treatment from a professional. It's often stronger and will be the most effective so you don't waste your money on a product that doesn't work or may harm you. You also only get one set of teeth, so it's best not to experiment on them. Consider the cause of the staining. There are numerous causes for teeth to have a yellow or brown tint. Be sure to get evaluated and diagnosed by a professional to ensure you receive the best treatment for your stains. Not all stains are the same so they may require different treatments. Consider your lifestyle, smile goals, and budget. When choosing a whitening treatment that is best for you, consider multiple factors when designing a custom plan. Some people like homework to whiten at home, some prefer in-office treatments only, some need to get really bright really fast — for a wedding, for example — whereas others would like a more gentle, gradual, consistent approach to whitening. Ease into it. Start integrating teeth whitening into your routine gradually to get your teeth accustomed to it and you can closely monitor your level of sensitivity to regulate how frequently you can whiten. Try to prevent. Make tiny changes to your lifestyle in an effort to prevent staining from penetrating your teeth. For example, sip staining beverages through a straw, swish with plain water after drinking anything staining, and pick flat water over sparkling whenever possible. Water floss to help in between the teeth stains. Blast away stubborn stains in between your teeth with a water flosser, because toothbrush bristles can only reach so much of your tooth surface. 'Everyone is their own person and what someone else is doing to their body shouldn't affect you in any way. 'Just because someone wants the 'whitest shade' doesn't mean you have to.' It isn't just Georgie's teeth that are becoming the target of cruel comments. She says: 'People are quoting that I'm a 'bad influence to this generation', but I have not once promoted getting Turkey teeth or filler, I'm just purely sharing my experience. 'A lot of people have gone into my comments to add about my [lip] filler, but again – it's not their face, so I think there's no need to worry about it. I think people are taking it way too personally.' Georgie says that while she's aware of the risks that surgery in Turkey can pose, it isn't something that concerns her. 'Obviously, there's always a 'What if this goes wrong?' thought,' she says. 'But that can happen with anything. 'People online keep saying, 'You'll regret it when you're older, you just wait.' 'But I'm not silly, I know the risks going into this and am fully aware that this is something that I'll always have to keep up. 'It's definitely a confidence boost and also a topic of conversation. 'I think people are more just curious about the process and seeing before and after pics. 'At the end of the day, it's my smile and my choice – and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.'
