Author: staff

The Iran war has had extensive impacts on both global tourism and aviation. The conflict is reportedly costing the Middle East travel and tourism industry €515 million a day, while the curtailed supply of oil from the region has seen jet fuel prices spiking, translating into higher airfares for passengers. Now, two major Gulf airlines have modified their loyalty programme requirements reflecting the reduction in air travel – and possibly signalling preparation for long-term consequences of the war. Etihad reduces air miles requirements This week, Etihad announced an adjustment in its loyalty programme requirements. All tier qualifications for Etihad Guest…

Nuclear states stepped up their production and deployment of the weapons last year, monitors said on Thursday, calling it a “concerning development” at a time of intensifying armed conflicts. Nearly all of the nine nuclear-armed states – Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea – have started increasing their arsenals or have announced plans to do so, according to authors of the annual Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor report. “The era of nuclear reduction is over,” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) and…

Published on 10/12/2025 – 9:00 GMT+1•Updated 20/03/2026 – 12:06 GMT+1 Dubbed the ‘easyJet of the railways,’ Dutch startup GoVolta undertook its inaugural journey this week. The train operator is banking on cheap fares to tempt passengers; tickets for the newly launched routes from Amsterdam to Hamburg and Berlin start at just €19. Passengers can also book city break packages via GoVolta, which include train tickets and hotels. The company plans to extend its service with an Amsterdam-Paris line starting in December 2026. GoVolta promises cheap tickets and direct routes GoVolta has launched two international routes: Amsterdam–Berlin and Amsterdam–Hamburg, both operating…

Not far behind were Latvia (3.7 percent), Estonia (3.4 percent), Denmark (3.3 percent) and Norway (3.2 percent). B grade — Above average Several countries also made it comfortably above the historic 2 percent target. They included Finland (2.9 percent), Greece (2.8 percent), the Netherlands (2.6 percent), Sweden (2.5 percent), Germany (2.4 percent) and Turkey (2.3 percent).  The class bully: There’s a special status for the United States, which got a B for spending 3.2 percent of GDP on defense last year, but that’s a drop from 3.3 percent in 2024 — putting it into the small group of backsliders. NATO Secretary-General…

Published on 26/03/2026 – 21:10 GMT+1 An officer in Germany’s army, the Bundeswehr, has been suspended after allegedly passing on the plans of more than 150 defence purchases to a lobbyist. The story was first reported in the German news magazine Der Spiegel, which said that the unnamed frigate captain worked directly for the Ministry of Defence. The list that was allegedly forwarded concerned planned purchases of weapons and equipment which ultimately made its way into the hands of an arms lobbyist. The document was made public in September 2025 in reporting by Politico but the full list of 150…

In the world of hotels, there are many brands that offer luxury, but few that are synonymous with the step above it: Soneva. Belmond. Aman. Each changed the hospitality industry in its own way, from pioneering barefoot luxury to ultra-personalised service. Now the hotelier behind Aman Resorts is set to shake things up again with a new concept in the Japanese countryside. Azuma Farm Koiwai, a collaboration between Adrian Zecha’s Azumi brand and East Japan Railway Company (JR East), will open in Iwate Prefecture next month. Occupying part of the Koiwai Farm, which was founded 130 years ago on once-barren…

“This is a complicated, difficult task, but it is a feasible one because we now have the necessary legal framework in place,” he said, saying the framework approved by the Parliament had put the initiative “on solid legal ground.” EU lawmakers on Thursday agreed to start negotiations on new migration measures aimed at speeding up returns and penalizing rejected asylum seekers who refuse to leave. “There is a new consensus in Europe,” said Charlie Weimers, the Swedish negotiator for the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists group. “The era of deportations has begun.” Human rights groups warn the plans could expose…

Published on 26/03/2026 – 21:39 GMT+1 US President Donald Trump said he is extending the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 10 days, reportedly in response to a request from the government in Tehran. “Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” he wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. On Sunday, Trump gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the key waterway or the US would destroy all of the country’s energy infrastructure. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting earlier on…

The visitor numbers for UK tourist attractions in 2025 are out now, with a record-breaking 7.1 million people flocking to the number one spot. London’s Natural History Museum, located in South Kensington, claimed the title of most-visited attraction in 2025, beating the British Museum which came in second place. This is the first time more than seven million people have visited the NHM, and it is an all-time record for any UK museum or gallery. In 2025, the museum opened Our Story with David Attenborough, an immersive experience covering the evolution of life on earth narrated by the legendary British…

The official complaint alleges the reporter engaged with foreign intelligence services and shared sensitive information about Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó. The country’s Justice Minister Bence Tuzson said his government described this as “an extraordinary situation” and a “serious criminal offense.” According to the minister’s statement, the allegations are based on “publicly known information.” Panyi had previously published a transcript of a 2020 conversation between Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussing elections in Slovakia. But Panyi denied accusations of wrongdoing and slammed the Hungarian government for acting like “an ally of the Kremlin” in a Facebook post.…