Author: staff
Now in its second edition, the Michelin Guide has just unveiled its latest selection of One-, Two- and Three-Key hotels across the globe. As you might expect, those at the higher end of the scale have the price tag to match, with some properties coming in at upwards of €5,000 per night. But that doesn’t mean you have to take out a second mortgage to experience the best hotels around the globe as there are some far more affordable One- and Two-Key options, particularly if you visit in off-season. From the 2026 selection, Michelin Guide has rounded up the best-value…
Can an AI detector threaten the success of a literary bestseller that is in the running for one of the country’s biggest literary prizes? In France, the novel “C’était ça ou mourir” by Thélyson Orélien, hailed as one of the revelations of the autumn publishing season and already selling more than 35,000 copies, now stands accused of having been written by artificial intelligence. The controversy was sparked by a message posted (source in French) on X on Monday 21 September by an anonymous account, “Balance ton Claude”. “According to Pangram, this novel was written almost entirely by an artificial intelligence,”…
Elina Valtonen is Finland’s foreign minister. Penny Wong is Australia’s foreign minister. Many people look at the state of today’s world and wonder if the United Nations has failed in its promise. Some question whether it can still rise to meet the moment and if we should be searching for solutions elsewhere. It is understandable, but it is dangerous and misguided. To paraphrase Dag Hammarskjöld, U.N. secretary-general from 1953 to 1961, the U.N. may not have brought us to heaven, but it has — so far — saved us from hell. For more than 80 years, the U.N. has underpinned…
Published on 23/09/2026 – 11:59 GMT+2 UK police said they arrested six protesters after an anti-immigration demonstration in southern England “became hostile towards officers” as a boat carrying migrants spent 36 hours crossing the Channel from France. Facing a crackdown from French and British authorities, migrants desperate to cross to the UK have been adopting new strategies in recent months, including relying on larger dinghies and utilising new routes. That has sparked renewed anger in England, with anti-immigrant protesters gathering in southern coastal towns with plans to foil the arrival of asylum seekers. Around 200 protesters, some in black clothing…
The 48th edition of the WorldSkills Competition has opened in Shanghai. The ceremony featured a spectacular dance performance with humanoid robots and human performers, drawing cheers from the audience. Held from 22 to 27 September, the competition brings together 1,385 competitors from 68 countries for 64 events. The contests cover areas including construction, manufacturing, information technology, creative arts and personal services. China has entered 71 competitors across all 64 skills. The competition itself runs from 23 to 26 September at the National Exhibition and Convention Center.
Lonely Planet has just unveiled its 2027 Best in Travel list – and 10 places and experiences in Europe made the cut. Released annually ahead of the holiday booking season, the list has been curated by the guide book publisher’s community of travel experts based around the globe. The list is split into two: 25 best places to visit, and 25 best experiences to book. Places that made the cut this year range from Dunedin and the Waitaki, one of the “coolest and quirkiest” parts of New Zealand, to Fulidhoo in the Maldives, an affordable alternative to the standard resort…
Streeting’s comments followed a meeting between Trump and Andy Burnham in which the U.S. president described the agreement brokered by Burnham’s predecessor Keir Starmer as “terrible.” Under the most recent version of the plan — paused in April when Trump withdrew his support — Mauritius would gain sovereignty over the islands, which are one of Britain’s last colonial possessions. The military base at Diego Garcia would be leased back to the U.K. and U.S. for a cost of £101m a year. Critics of the deal, including right-wing politicians in the U.K., argue that it risks allowing China a crucial toehold…
Published on 23/09/2026 – 11:32 GMT+2•Updated 11:42 EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where the two discussed diplomatic routes to ending the war between the United States and Iran and fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X after the meeting, Kallas said ships should not have to pay to pass through the strait once the conflict ends. She noted that no tolls or fees were charged before the war, and said navigation must be “free and unimpeded” in…
ChatGPT, Grok and Claude provided full news summaries drawing on EU-sanctioned Russian state media outlets — including RT and Sputnik — sharing links and quotes without warning users that the content came from banned sources, according to a study by Reporters Without Borders published this month. The investigation, led by RSF technology desk head Vincent Berthier, tested six AI chatbots by explicitly requesting news from a list of sanctioned Russian outlets: RIA Novosti, Russia Today and its foreign-language editions, Rossiya RTR, Rossiya 24, Sputnik and the Strategic Culture Foundation. Where direct access was blocked, the researchers instructed the tools to…
At a time when every euro spent and saved is being scrutinised in the search for ways to reduce France’s deficit, Oxfam is targeting a tax break for inherited family businesses that it says disproportionately benefits the wealthiest heirs. In a report published on Tuesday, the NGO called for tighter limits on the Dutreil pact, which exempts 75% of a qualifying company’s value when gift or inheritance tax is calculated. Oxfam estimates that reforming the scheme could raise more than €3bn a year, as France searches for savings and additional revenue ahead of its 2027 budget. As the French public…