News

Council to 'eliminate' punctuation mark on signs

A North Yorkshire resident says the punctuation changes risk "everything going downhill".

Southwest Airlines Problems Paint Worrying Picture for Other Companies

A ripple effect is taking place in the aviation industry thanks to historic problems at Boeing.

Singapore's Gardens by the Bay Launches an Aurora Borealis Installation

No visa is needed to see this aurora borealis.

Europe’s best beach holidays: Arcachon, France

The Bay of Arcachon, on the south-west coast of France, is a happy place. It must be, because I’ve been visiting it with my family nearly every year for the past 15 years. We usually rent a small apartment in Arcachon town for four or five days, but such is the draw that we have been known to make a two-hour drive just to spend the day there when we’ve been in that part of the world. Everything about it speaks of summer joy: the promenade...

Sweetens Cove, the top public course in Tennessee, to close all summer

Sweetens Cove, Golfweek's No. 1-rated public-access golf course in Tennessee, announced Sunday it will be closed all of June, July and August this year. In a social media post announcing the move Sunday, the course owners explained ho

Snakes almost on a plane: TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants

MIAMI (AP) — Airport security officers in Miami found a slithering surprise last week — a bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's pants. According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint. The post included a photo of two small snakes that were found in what appeared to be a sunglasses bag. TSA...

Thieves apparently killed 2 Australians and American to steal their truck, Mexican authorities say

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Thieves apparently killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico in order to steal their truck because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday. Baja California state prosecutors released grisly details of the slayings, but have not yet officially confirmed the identification of the bodies. They said family members of the victims are viewing the bodies to see if they can be identified by sight. The...

Europeans have more time, Americans more money. Which is better?

Comparing Europeans and Americans is dangerous terrain, but last week Nicolai Tangen, head of Norway's giant oil fund, went there. He told the Financial Times there was a difference in "the general level of ambition. We [Europeans] are not very ambitious. I should be careful about talking about work-life balance, but the Americans just work harder." This has been said often before. In Franz Kafka's novel Amerika, published posthumously in 1927,...

10 UK stays that take tranquillity to the next level

The Tawny, Staffordshire Bordering the Consall Nature Park, a nature reserve featuring 740 acres of woodland, heath and moor, is The Tawny, a “deconstructed hotel”. This means that instead of a single house with rooms there are a collection of boathouses, huts and treehouses scattered around the woodlands and lakes. At the top of the hill is a modern glass building, the Plumicorn restaurant, and a heated outdoor pool looking out over the...

Everything We Know About the 2024 Met Gala’s Theme, Dress Code, and Guests

The dress code is “The Garden of Time.”

Can cherished former hostel be saved from ruin?

Many people have happy memories of Viewhill House youth hostel which was destroyed by fire in 2007.

Discover Japan's treasures at Sake Manila 2024

EMBARK on a gastronomic journey like no other at Sake Manila 2024, where the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila transforms into a vibrant panorama of Japan's finest liquid art on May 24. This grand event promises to tantalize everyone's palate and enrich their cultural horizons with an endless array of sake, shochu, whisky and beer, each telling a unique story of heritage and masterful craftsmanship. With over 200 labels to sample, attendees' taste...

Brits, Burberry and the Biennale! What happened inside the British Pavilion opening

Brits, Burberry and the Biennale! What happened inside the British Pavilion opening - As the art world flocks to Venice, Joe Bromley joins the fray for the British Pavilion’s star-studded opening bash and beyond

My 15-year-old son and I live in both France and the US. We're more active In France, but appreciate the slower pace of the South.

My son and I spend half the year in France and the other half in the United States. Here are the parenting similarities and differences.

I left San Francisco and moved to LA. Here are the 5 worst things about leaving the Bay Area.

This artist left San Francisco and moved to LA. She says her new city feels socially distant and she misses the diversity, culture, and support in SF.

The Beatle who never was

LIVERPOOL — It was supposed to be the usual one and a half-hour, hop-on, hop-off ride on a double-deck bus taking tourists around this English port city. The itinerary included stops at Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, two subjects of Beatles songs with pass-throughs of the homes where John Lennon and Paul McCartney grew up. What made the trip interesting was guide Chris Hough’s historical anecdotes not just on the Beatles but also on the city....

Disney World theme parks are becoming remote working hotspots

Writers, techies, and social media workers are just some of those heading down to Orlando and sharing their experiences online.

Bean there, done that

"Initially, we just wanted to offer a tranquil place where people can unwind and enjoy their coffee. But when we realized the potential for foot traffic given our café's scenic location, we saw the opportunity to turn it into a lucrative business by expanding our product line." DARAGA, Albay: Dubbed the "second-largest consumer of coffee in Asia," the Philippines, without a doubt, is a country of coffee aficionados. Whether it is an instant...

Museum spotlights ancient Egypt beyond the mummies

Curators showcase environment of the ancient Nile Valley in a new display.

What is Cinco de Mayo? Holiday's meaning and origins tied to famous 1862 battle

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5 every year, the day Mexico won over the Second French Empire in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

NHCP, DLSU-Dasmariñas collaborate for cultural heritage celebration

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite: The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) together with the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) celebrate "ALAB: Ani ng Lahi at Bayan 2024," DLSU- D's Cultural Heritage Week from May 6 to 10, 2024. The event aims to be a vibrant celebration of the richness of Filipino culture and history that shape the Philippines, illuminating various traditions, customs and stories that contribute to the foundation...

Two PH Beaches Voted Among 50 Best in the World

It's likely you haven't heard of these slices of paradise.

Image of Divino Tesoro returned to Calasiao, Pangasinan

The image of Señor Divino Tesoro has returned to the Senior Divino Tesoro Shrine after being displayed at the Calasiao Public Plaza for nine days. A procession and Mass were held before the image was returned, attended by devoted followers who lined up patiently to touch and hold the image. Some devotees shared stories of miracles they attribute to Señor Divino Tesoro. Flora Dela Fuente, a devotee, believes that she survived breast cancer...

Qantas passengers to receive up to $450 after major blunder

Qantas will pay millions of dollars in compensation to passengers after reaching an agreement with the ACCC to settle a lawsuit against the airline for selling seats on flights that had already been cancelled.

This will be the largest city in the world with 500 million inhabitants

I took a 20-minute ferry ride from Europe to Asia for $1. I was shocked I didn't see more tourists on board.

I wanted to visit Europe and Asia during a trip to Istanbul with my kids. The best way to do it was a $1 commuter ferry with great views of the city.

Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

A story about an annual swimming race being cancelled was among our most read in Berkshire.

Farm To Table: Rainier Castillo's food trip (Episode 168)

Abangan ang si Rainier Castillo sa food adventure at food trip ng 'Farm to Table' ngayong May 5! Join our exciting food exploration and learn the process of food preparation with Chef JR Royol. Catch 'Farm to Table' every Sunday, 7:15 p.m. on GTV.

Manx Wildlife Trust seeks for new woodland rangers

The posts will be key in developing and looking after new Manx woodlands, conservationists say.

Cebu City planners call for stricter building rules in protected areas

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City’s top planners want stricter rules for building in protected areas, especially the Cebu City Protected Landscape (CCPL). Architect Joseph Michael “Yumi” Espina, head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), said via the Sugboanon Channel that the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) needs to review their rules for construction in the protected landscape. “That is what is happening now in our CCPL,...

DENR bans use of piped water for golf courses

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has prohibited golf courses in Metro Manila and nearby areas from using piped water from Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water amid the continued drop in the water level of Angat Dam. In an interview with select reporters including The STAR, Environment Undersecretary Carlos David said that the latest DENR bulletin, which was released last Friday, directed...

Camping warning as numbers increase at beauty spot

The narrow South Gare Road becomes congested with mobile homes and caravans at busy times.

Before Summer Vacation, Download Offline Maps on Your iPhone

Here's how you can download portions of the Maps app to use offline.

Dubai deluge brings home climate change dangers to a desert nation

Visitors to Dubai's Mall of the Emirates' famous artificial ski slope last month found it dark and deserted. Even though the shopping centre itself was filled with the usual tourists, the silent snow dome suggested all was not well, after a deluge in the metropolis disrupted the power to chill the slope. Several days after the United Arab Emirates was drenched by historically intense rainfall, many streets surrounding the pristine mall were...

While Boeing's passenger planes glitch, NASA is entrusting the company's spaceship with 2 astronauts' lives

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft isn't totally safe from the cost-cutting, KPI-focused company culture that experts blame for the 737 Max incidents.

After an 'emotional rollercoaster,' NASA astronauts are ready to fly on Boeing Starliner

Two NASA astronauts waited several extra years for their ride aboard Boeing Starliner, but the wait was not fully unexpected, the former test pilots recently shared with reporters.

‘Mama’ comes to Baguio

Nowie and Odette Potenciano of the much-loved Sunny Side Cafe in Boracay—along with their shibas Mari and Luna—have opened a new cafe in the summer city of Baguio! It is the latest addition to the iconic Camp John Hay but it is not inside the Manor; they have opened a standalone cafe! It is called Berry Mama Baguio, an offshoot of the Boracay and La Union favorites of Coco Mama, Ube Mama and Mango Mama. Berry Mama continues the thrust of the...

Mexico tourist train an environmental ‘nightmare,’ activists say

SOLIDARIDAD, Mexico — In a cave in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, where nature has sculpted a subterranean landscape of stunning beauty, thick steel columns supporting a controversial new tourist railway intrude into a delicate ecosystem. The Yucatan Peninsula boasts an estimated 2,400 of these caverns and sinkholes, which are known as cenotes and are a major attraction for tourists who swim and snorkel in the crystal clear waters that fill some of...

The American paradox of protest: Celebrated and condemned, welcomed and muzzled

NEW YORK (AP) — They’re hallmarks of American history: protests, rallies, sit-ins, marches, disruptions. They date from the early days of what would become the United States to the sights and sounds echoing across the landscapes of the nation’s colleges and universities during this activist spring. And just as much a part of that American history? Those same events being met with irritation, condemnation, anger, calls to desist, and at times the...

Parents of US, Australian tourists presumed killed in Mexico to try identifying bodies

By Raul Cortes and Lizbeth Diaz MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The parents of an American and two Australian surfers presumed to have been killed in northern Mexico have arrived in the country and will try to identify the dead bodies believed to be their children, a Mexican regional official said on Sunday. Authorities in the Baja California state are conducting forensic tests on three corpses they

SNP holiday lets chaos is scaring off tourists, says Airbnb

The $100billion global accommodation firm says tourists are shunning Scotland because of the Scottish Government's holiday rental red tape shambles.

Tiny Texas town roiled by new German beer festival

Tensions among locals in Muenster, a rural community settled by German immigrants, have been brewing over the competing events which happened over three days in April.

Dick Rutan, co-pilot of historic round-the-world flight, dies at 85

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) — Burt Rutan was alarmed to see the plane he had designed was so loaded with fuel that the wing tips started dragging along the ground as it taxied down the runway. He grabbed the radio to warn the pilot, his older brother Dick Rutan. But Dick never heard the message. Nine days and three minutes later, Dick, along with copilot Jeana Yeager, completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first...

Your vacation was ruined, and the company apologized — with a heartfelt note written by ChatGPT

Using generative AI to write apologetic responses is a taboo topic in the travel industry, which prides itself on personal service.

The new W Hotel Sydney makes a splash on the waterfront

The new W Hotel Sydney makes a splash on the waterfront - As Marriot Bonvoy’s largest ever W hotel lands in Sydney, Jonathan Samuels discovers that it stands for both Wow... and Wacky

‘Eurail pass’ for Asean air travel

In a bid to shine the spotlight on other tourist destinations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the Asean Business Advisory Council (BAC) has teamed up with budget airlines to help travelers explore hidden gems in all corners of the region. The Asean-BAC brings into focus intra-regional tourism as an engine of growth toward a more prosperous bloc. Nazir Rasak, chair of the Asean-BAC of Malaysia, says there’s a collective...

Migrants pitch dozens of tents along the banks of Dublin's Grand Canal

Photos show the blue tents lined up along a stretch of the canal near the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street.

Qantas Settles ‘Ghost Flight’ Lawsuit as Cleanup Costs Mount

Qantas Airways Ltd. will pay a A$100 million ($66 million) penalty and compensate passengers for selling tickets on thousands of flights it had already decided to cancel, as Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson continues costly repairs to the airline’s battered reputation.

Qantas agrees payouts over 'ghost flights'

Qantas agrees to pay millions to settle lawsuit accusing it of selling tickets to cancelled flights.

Dead bodies in Mexico likely are missing U.S., Australian surfers

By Lizbeth Diaz MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -The three dead bodies found in Mexico's Baja California state are highly likely to be the American and two Australian tourists who went missing last week, a senior official from the region said on Saturday. Mexican authorities are conducting forensic tests after finding the bodies on Friday in a well following a days long search for Australian brothers