72 m. ago Off the beaten track: From visiting local communities to slow travel, experience a greener Thailand

Take the train, stay with a local and immerse yourself in the community

Politics

72 m. ago From elephant and bear sanctuaries to whale watching and tiger rescues: Thailand’s ethical wildlife getaways

Experience the country’s amazing animals in the most responsible way possible

Events

76 m. ago Sanatorium review – Ukraine health resort guests seek sanctuary amid shelling

Poignant documentary by Irish director Gar O’Rourke peers into a faded Soviet-era institution where visitors search for relief while war grinds on outsideThere is something ever so slightly Martin Parr-like about this documentary, filmed inside a shabby rundown health resort near Odesa, in Ukraine. It’s not the colour palette, which is Soviet-era pale beige, but the images of holidaymakers: elderly men strutting about in thongs and playing ping pong in their vests; retirees of both sexes glad-ragged at the disco. Like Parr’s photos, the images are funny but not unkind; everyone retains their dignity. The director is Irish film-maker Gar O’Rourke, who planned Sanatorium before the war, but filmed it after Russia invaded Ukraine, which adds a layer of melancholy to the guests’ search for health and happiness.The huge Kuyalnik sanatorium is a time warp with its brutalist architecture and institutional interiors. Back in its glory days, people must have come here in their thousands. Now...

Politics

84 m. ago Public consultations on Stirling's proposed 'tourist tax' to get underway

The draft scheme, which was informed by feedback in an extensive public engagement process earlier this year, outlines ambitious plans to enhance, support and future-proof the region's visitor economy.

Politics

3 h. ago The Spanish camping brand that’s big on nature immersion, cool design and creature comforts

A site in the pine-clad hills of Andalucía is part of a chain that seeks to connect with nature and outdoor adventure while offering a stylish glamping experienceA few years ago, camping with friends, I watched in awe as Becky set up her pitch. While the rest of us were stringing out guy ropes on tents as glamorous as giant cagoules, she arrived with a bell tent, duvets instead of sleeping bags, sheepskin rugs and vintage folding chairs. For all the talk of breathability, practicality and “high performance” gear, it was Becky’s tent we all wanted to sleep in. In the years since, I have never quite achieved her level of camping chic – until this summer, when I discovered the innovative Spanish camping brand Kampaoh.It all began back in 2016, when Kampaoh CEO Salvador Lora and his partner were backpacking in the Dominican Republic. One night they came across a campsite with pre-erected tents within which were mattresses and blankets. “We were in the middle of nature, surrounded by pea...

Politics

3 h. ago Fewer international tourists are traveling to the US. That’s not expected to change anytime soon

In the first seven months of the year, the number of overseas visitors declined by more than 3 million, compared to the same period a year before, according to U.S. government data

Society

4 h. ago ‘Artefacts were just sitting in suitcases in people’s homes’: the London museum preserving Somali culture

The UK’s first dedicated space for Somali heritage has built its collection from 15 years of donations. Culture House’s founders explain the power of giving a permanent home to a community’s heritage and hopesYou could probably walk right past Culture House without noticing it. Tucked away, just off the bustle of London’s Uxbridge Road, the building’s muted colours, simple sign and arched doorway give little away. Step inside, though, and you’ll soon be enticed by what is the UK’s first permanent exhibition and cultural space dedicated to Somali heritage.Officially opened last May, Culture House features a collection of over 150 artefacts, a rotating exhibition, poetry workshops and a digital archive. It has quickly developed a reputation as a hub for the UK’s Somali community, while drawing in curious visitors from outside the diaspora too. Non-profit group the Anti-Tribalism Movement, who lead the project, say the aim is to “celebrate, preserve and connect” Somali culture and comm...

Culture

4 h. ago UK weather maps show surprise September heatwave as parts of England hit 25C

The UK is set to bask in more hot weather following a summer of record-breaking temperatures, with some regions still experiencing temperatures in the mid-20s

Society

5 h. ago ‘What reconciliation? What forgiveness?’: Syria’s deadly reckoning

Over a few brutal days in March, as sectarian violence and revenge killings tore through parts of Syria, two friends from different communities tried to find a way to surviveOn the night of 6 March, Munir, his wife and their two sons, both in their 20s, got no sleep. They huddled together in a small bedroom in their apartment as government troops and militiamen entered their neighbourhood of Qusour in the coastal city of Baniyas and went from house to house. The fighters seemed to be moving through the streets with little coordination. One house might get raided by five separate groups, while others were left untouched. “There was no plan,” Munir said, “just violence and looting.”The first question the fighters were asking when they stormed into an apartment was: “Are you a Sunni or an Alawite?” The answer decided the fate of the residents. Sunnis were spared – although in some cases their apartments were looted. When the raiders found an Alawite home, some stole what they...

Events

6 h. ago Fewer international tourists are traveling to the US. Here’s why that’s not expected to change anytime soon

In the first seven months of the year, the number of overseas visitors declined by more than 3 million, compared to the same period a year before, according to U.S. government data

Society

9 h. ago Girl becomes orphan after dad kills mum and then himself in tragic murder

The teenager returned home in Katy, Texas, to find her parents dead and family members have told police the couple - a 48-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man - had experienced marital trouble

Events

11 h. ago Five takeaways from ‘world class’ Universal Studios theme park planned for UK

Bosses promise thousands of jobs will be created with millions of visitors

Politics

13 h. ago Randal Kolo Muani’s second chance brings needed versatility to Tottenham attack

The PSG striker rejected a move to Spurs in January but now brings experience and firepower to Thomas Frank’s forward line

Events

13 h. ago Marc Guéhi’s £35m move to Liverpool collapses after Glasner’s Crystal Palace fury

Deadline day deal sheet was submitted for centre-back Glasner was so unhappy there were fears he could leaveCrystal Palace dramatically pulled the plug on Marc Guéhi’s move to Liverpool minutes before the transfer deadline because they couldn’t find an adequate replacement, despite agreeing to sell the England defender for £35m earlier in the day.It is understood that Guéhi had been booked in to complete the first part of his medical in expectation of his move to Anfield going through, with a deal sheet having been submitted before Monday’s 7pm deadline. But despite Palace confirming the signing of the France Under-20 defender Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse for £21m, they decided not to sanction Guéhi’s departure at the last minute because they failed to bring in another more experienced option. Continue reading...

Economics

14 h. ago I've done the same thing at Manchester Airport for three years, I wouldn't change back

It makes the whole experience so much simpler

Politics

15 h. ago Epstein, America’s health and government shutdown: Congress to return with a full plate of Trump’s agenda

Congress will face a vote on Jeffrey Epstein files, passing spending bills and preventing a spike in health care premiums when it comes back to Washington, Eric Garcia writes

Politics

15 h. ago Stroke centres in England given AI tool that will help 50% of patients recover

NHS equips all centres with life-saving software that will increase number of patients avoiding serious disabilityHalf of all people who experience a stroke in England will now recover thanks to a revolutionary AI scanning system that increases the number of patients avoiding serious disability.The NHS has equipped every stroke centre in England with life-saving software that quickly tells doctors if they need to perform emergency surgery and can triple the rate of recovery. Continue reading...

Science

16 h. ago Mayor of Dubrovnik reveals crackdown on overtourism after Game of Thrones visitor surge

Exclusive: Mato Frankovic says the city walls will only be accessible via advance booking from 2026

Politics

18 h. ago Flight attendant urges travellers to always pack 8 items in their hand luggage

A flight attendant has shared the eight items she believes are essential to bring on a plane, especially if it's a long-haul flight, as it will make your experience more relaxing an enjoyable

Transport

18 h. ago UK experienced its hottest summer on record in 2025, Met Office says

Mean temperature over June, July and August was 16.1C as country endured four heatwavesThe UK has seen its hottest summer on record, the Met Office has said, after the country sweltered under four heatwaves in a single season.The mean temperature for meteorological summer, which encompasses the months of June, July and August, was 16.1C, which is significantly above the current record of 15.76C set in 2018. Continue reading...

Politics