News

Lanterns, lights and laundry: Photos of the week

A selection of striking images from around the world, taken over the past seven days.

How Club Vistara members will be affected by Air India-Vistara merger. Check details for Club Vistara CV program

In an update to its users, Club Vistara informed that its ‘frequent flyer’ programme will be merged with Air India’s ‘Flying Returns’ programme. The airline said that details regarding co-brand cards will be shared in the coming weeks.

Your dream beach vacation can happen right at home in America

Can’t go abroad this year? Don't sweat it. The US has some awesome beaches for you to kick back and relax on that are closer to home. Check them out!

How wild swimming puts you at risk of a raft of waterborne diseases

It sounded like good news for wild swimmers. Last week, 27 new river bathing sites were added to the map of the UK's coastal and inland waterways deemed safe for use.

Modest Mexican taco resto wins Michelin star

MEXICO CITY—A hole-in-the-wall taqueria is among the first restaurants in Mexico to be awarded a star by the prestigious Michelin Guide—an accomplishment its owner credits to “love and effort.” El Califa de Leon is one of 18 restaurants given either one or two stars in the inaugural Michelin Guide Mexico unveiled on Tuesday. The long-standing family business specializes in just four types of tacos and has room for only a few customers at a time...

Nature reserves to be immortalised in soundscapes

A recording session in Northumberland was "powerful, beautiful and emotive", a wildlife trust says.

Marcos: PH is beautiful everywhere, but cities less so

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday said that there was no place in the Philippines that was not beautiful— except for the cities perhaps. Speaking at the inauguration of the Pagudpud Tourist Rest Area in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, the President touted the country’s beaches and other nature sites. READ: Marcos sees sustained PPP to boost PH tourism “Maganda talaga masyado ang Pilipinas, kahit saan ka talaga tumingin...

Lawmaker wants tourist sites made accessible to PWDs, seniors

MANILA, Philippines — To boost the country’s tourism, House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar wants tourist destinations to be accessible to senior citizens and people with disabilities (PWDs). In House Bill 10349 or the proposed PWD and Senior Citizen-Friendly Tourism Sites Act, Villar urged the government to engage in accessible tourism practices to encourage more individuals to travel and explore the country’s tourist sites....

Ang See: Tougher visa rules for Chinese not right solution

Tightening visa rules for Chinese tourists will not stop the influx of undesirable visitors if immigration officers can be bribed anyway, civic leader Teresita Ang See said on Thursday. “We already have a proper visa application process in place in our consular and embassy office abroad. That system ain’t broke,” said Ang See, a longtime anticrime crusader from the Filipino-Chinese community. “Instead, the problem lies with our bureaucrats here...

25 Things to Eat, See and Do This Summer — From Staying at Prince's “Purple Rain” House to Exploring an Ice Cave

From music festival hopping to trying the most delicious croissants in America, these travel spots don't need to wait for your bucket list

Red Planet hopes to open a new PH hotel yearly

MANILA, Philippines — Red Planet Hotels plans to expand further its portfolio in the Philippines, with the budget hotel brand looking into opening a new site annually starting next year. Florent Humeau, chief executive officer of Red Planet Hotels, on Friday said they are looking at several prospective areas across the country, including locations in the cities of Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu. “I hope in the next three, five years, we...

'Hush vacations' trend as remote workers slip off for travel getaways without telling the boss

Today, as more workers are remote, some are slipping in "hush vacations" during work days without officially taking paid time off. Here's what to know about the trend, with expert input.

Your pictures on the theme of 'tunnels'

A selection of striking images from our readers around the world.

Marcos: 'Tourist rest areas' will help PH become Asia's tourism powerhouse

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized that tourist rest areas (TRA) would help the Philippines become a tourism powerhouse in Asia. ''This TRA is an important initiative for us as we want to transform the Philippines into the tourism powerhouse in Asia. We are in very stiff competition," Marcos said during the inauguration of the tourist rest area in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. "Thailand has done an extremely good job in...

Finish line ahead for man 'walking the world'

Ian Mawson is appealing for people to join him on the last leg of his mammoth trek in June.

California's scenic Highway 1 to Big Sur opens to around-the-clock travel as slide repair advances

BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) — A section of California's scenic Highway 1 leading to the famous Big Sur coast reopened to around-the-clock traffic Friday after stabilization of a storm-triggered rockslide that dropped a chunk of one lane into the ocean and hampered tourism. The gap has yet to be closed, but after placement of steel and concrete into the cliff, a temporary signal system was activated to allow alternating north-south traffic on the...

Engineer battles lack of oxygen on Everest trek

Ben Allan says he "couldn't think of a better cause to support" on his charity expedition.

Boeing re-elects outgoing CEO as search for replacement continues amid safety culture crisis

Boeing's safety culture crisis has included multiple whistleblowers who have come forward after several incidents that have drawn public attention to potential issues with the company's planes.

Researchers found a mysterious new planet that is similar to cotton candy

Double-amputee who climbed Everest eyes new peaks

Double amputee Hari Budha Magar aims to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Frontier Airlines does away with change fees in budget airline pricing overhaul

The budget airline's changes come amid the Biden administration's crackdown on so-called "junk fees."

The 10 holiday destinations most used by cybercriminals to trick Brits

Experts from McAfee have revealed the 10 holiday destinations most used by cybercriminals to entice unsuspecting British holidaymakers.

'Yellowstone' and 'The White Lotus' inspiring luxe summer vacations, 'set-jetting' trend

The "set-jetting" trend sweeping travel shows people are picking their vacations based on destinations seen in their favorite shows, including Montana, Hawaii and Sicily, Italy.

The 30 most breathtaking skylines in America

The US is a wide and diverse land of intense and unique bursts of development, with higher buildings and more interesting structures popping up each year. These skylines emerge like a fingerprint of each city, revealing their characteristics through architecture, atmosphere, and culture. Check out this gallery to see the top 30 skylines in the country.

From bear watching to circus school: Here are a few unique all-inclusive resorts

Many of these all-inclusive resorts have perks that are so cool they're worth planning a whole vacation around.

The world's top places to visit in 2024

The holiday season brings with it thoughts of travel, a Christmas vacation perhaps, or somewhere memorable to chime in the New Year. But where in the world are the coolest, hotly-tipped places to visit in 2024? Click through and check out these top destinations, referenced by Travel + Leisure as the most popular places to go in 2024.

First crewed flight of Boeing Starliner postponed again

WASHINGTON, United States — The first crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner to the International Space Station has been delayed again due to a technical issue, NASA said Friday. The launch in Florida was scheduled for Tuesday but NASA said it is now planned for May 25 to allow teams to further assess a helium leak linked to the service module, which sits on top of the rocket. Earlier this month, a Starliner launch was postponed just hours before...

Pirates Weekend gets under way in Plymouth

A 3km (1.86 mile) Pirate Fun Run is among this year's events.

What Happens When You Take Street Art Out of the Street?

The Banksy Universe exhibit is now open in BGC.

South Korea-based Aero K Launches Direct Flights from Manila to Cheongju

Good news for nature travelers.

Marcos admin to promote diving destinations in Region 1

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday disclosed the government's plan to further promote diving destinations in Region I. ''We are now planning to --- here in Region 1, planning to reassess, to promote the various dive destinations naman [in] the provinces such as Pagudpud, Badoc, and Currimao,'' Marcos said in his speech during the inauguration of tourist rest area in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. ''And we could not have a better...

The greatest retirement locations in the world

After so many years of working hard, retirement can sneak up on you quickly, so why not start planning for your golden years now? Choosing the ideal place to retire is an incredibly important decision and requires a lot of planning and research, but luckily the International Living magazine has published a list of the best destinations to relax into the better half of life. From modern cities to idyllic coastlines, check out this gallery to see the best options out there.

WHEN IN SIQUIJOR (1): Cambugahay Falls

CEBU CITY, Philippines –Siquijor is an island province located in Central Visayas, Philippines. In the early years, it was associated and made more famous or infamous – depending on which side of the fence you’re in – with dark rituals such ‘barang’ ‘lumay’ ‘patawas’ and other mystic activities. Over the years, however, visitors discovered a wealth of natural treasures on the island. Siquijor in the past, therefore, is more misunderstood than...

Marcos: Better transport, infra mean more tourists

Boasting that “there is no place in the Philippines that is not beautiful,” President Marcos on Friday said he was eyeing a tenfold increase in the number of “balikbayan” tourists visiting the country. At the inauguration of a tourist rest area on the pristine beach at Barangay Saud in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, the President said the government would continue improving travel, transportation and tourist infrastructure to turn the country into...

Gorgeous Oregon coast hotel with no TVs or WiFi that encourages guests to read its enormous selection of books and enjoy ocean views is sold to new owners who hint they'll modernize it

The Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport captured local attention thanks to its picturesque Pacific Ocean views and literary theme - which extended to a total ban on TVs and Wi-Fi.

Eerie video shows once thriving tourist island completely deserted

Footage of Magnetic Island, 20 minutes from Townsville, revealed a distinct lack of tourists despite the April-May window usually being popular with those seeking warmth.

"They're building luxury hotels in Kiev while we don't have enough hands to concrete the front line"

General Michel Yakovleff, former NATO deputy chief of staff, was a guest of French news channel LCI to give his analysis of the Russian advance in recent days and the lack of Ukrainian resources to confront it. "They are building expensive buildings in Kiev, the capital, and they are not digging trenches where they should be," the general stated. "The exasperation, anger and indignation are starting to be felt among Ukrainian soldiers, it's...

Taiwan and China: different views across the strait

Standing on the shore of Taiwan's Kinmen island, Taiwanese tourists snap photos of the skyline of China's Xiamen city that is clearly visible across the sliver of water separating them. As Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te, a staunch defender of Taiwan's sovereignty, prepares to take office on Monday, Taiwanese visitors to Kinmen hope he can avoid a conflict.

You can soon rent Airbnb's replica of Edna Mode's mansion in 'The Incredibles'

Want to feel what it's like to step into the shoes of The Incredibles' Edna Mode and live in her extravagant mansion? You can now fulfill that wish as Airbnb announced that it will be open to requests to book the place starting May 24. But there's a catch: While the house is open for visits, overnight stays are not allowed. "Come explore my years o...

Beyond weddings: Celebrations at the Marco 2024 embrace all milestones

Marking its 18th anniversary, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu hosts its signature event, “Celebrations at the Marco,” in the hotel’s majestic grand ballroom. This unique event brings together over 40 trusted event suppliers for a two-day extravaganza from May 18 to 19, 2024, offering a one-of-a-kind experience for all attendees. We thought that everybody in life has to celebrate something. In the past, it was always like a wedding fair, and I think we...

Gunmen kill three Spanish tourists in Afghanistan's central Bamyan province

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Charlotte Greenfield and Ana Cantero KABUL/MADRID/DELHI (Reuters) -Three Spanish tourists were killed and at least one Spaniard was injured in an attack by gunmen in Afghanistan's central Bamyan province, Spain's foreign ministry said on Friday. Earlier on Friday, Taliban interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qaniee had said that three foreign tourists and one Afghan

Queen Maxima to visit Philippines, to push financial inclusion

MANILA, Philippines — Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is scheduled to visit Manila next week in her capacity as United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). She is expected to stay from May 21 to 23 and meet with President Marcos and top finance officials. The visit will focus on advancing key foundational building blocks for financial inclusion – including connectivity, digital...

King Charles III to travel to France for UK ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III plans to travel to France next month for British ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, while skipping the larger international event a few miles away as he continues to be treated for cancer. Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to attend a ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer on June 6, Buckingham Palace said Friday. The Prince of Wales will stand in for the king at...

Pitch concerns for boys travelling to Wales to train

Waterlogging in the winter means the team is forced to travel miles to train for its matches.

Extension Cords Are Now Allowed in Hand-Carry Bags on Planes

For long waits in the airport.

Part of London Overground will close for six weekends in May and June

A large part of the London Overground is closing over six summer weekends in 13 days of disruption between May 18 and July 7. Find the full list of dates and stations affected here.

Black history told through amazing (and disturbing) objects

The National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) chronicles a people's journey and a nation's story. Located in Washington, D.C., this world-class cultural facility, a Smithsonian Institution, features an outstanding collection of exhibits related to the African-American community, family, the visual and performing arts, religion, civil rights, slavery, and segregation. Indeed, the museum provides visitors with a fascinating and deeply moving illustrative diary of the richness and diversity of the African-American experience. It also records darker chapters in the African-American timeline. So, are you interested in learning more? Click through and ponder some of the museum's standout pieces.

The Secret iPhone Feature That Lets You Take Stunning Long-Exposure Photos

Use Live Photos to take gorgeous long-exposure shots, with no extra apps or equipment needed.

Incredible places from Greek mythology you can visit today

There are plenty of places you can go to find beautiful beaches, party islands, mouthwatering cuisine, and sunny skies. But very few of them combine all these things with mesmerizing remnants of the ancient world and mythology. Dipped in ancient history, Greece is one of the very few countries that combine all of these with a dream destination for anyone interested in mythology. Click on for a selection of real locations that were center stage for many famous Greek myths.

Migrants slam 'hotel king' who raked in £3.5m PER DAY for housing them

A lucrative contract to accommodate new arrivals has catapulted Graham King - dubbed 'the migrant hotel king' - into the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of £750million .