68 m. ago Europe live: US treasury secretary indicates growing frustration with Putin over Ukraine

Scott Bessent says ‘all options on the table’ and condemns ‘despicable’ increase in attacks as Russian leader receives warm welcome in Chinain BrusselsBelgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly, adding to the growing number of countries seeking to put pressure on Israel and keep alive a two-state solution to end the conflict.“In view of the humanitarian tragedy playing out in Palestine and particularly in Gaza, and in the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and the Hamas terrorists.” Continue reading...

Politics

81 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

86 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

94 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

98 m. ago 'I visited Tenby for first time but one simple thing put me off'

Christopher Evans visited Tenby for the first time in a bid to find the "prettiest town in Wales"; however, he admitted one thing about the popular seaside town put him off

Politics

2 h. ago Kim Jong Un arrives in China by armoured train to join Putin and Xi at Beijing's huge military parade as the communists push for new world order at anti

The North Korean leader's rare trip marks his first visit to China in six years and comes as the trio tighten their alliance in a direct challenge to the West.

Events

3 h. ago 'I visited Welsh town with cobbled streets, cosy pubs and a castle and made huge mistake'

If you're looking for a UK break packed full of history, ancient buildings, quirky attractions, stunning views, amazing food and very comfortable beds, you need look no further than Conwy in North Wales

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

3 h. ago Motherwell man told he may never walk again was flying after selection for Seattle

Charlie Russell works as a data specialist at Amazon delivery station and visited the company's global HQ

Politics

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

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

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

15 h. ago Man arrested after boy, 8, 'sexually assaulted in his tent' at Loch Ness

Police Scotland have arrested a 44-year-old man after an eight-year-old boy, who was visiting the Highlands with his family, was allegedly sexually assaulted in his tent at Loch Ness

Events

15 h. ago All the castles, gardens and attractions you can visit for free this September in and around Cardiff

Some great Welsh historic landmarks are opening for free during September 2025

Politics

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

17 h. ago Queen Maxima joins her glamorous daughters to cheer on  Max Verstappen at Zandvoort

Queen Maxima, 54, led the fashionable visit with her daughters Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane following in her stylish footsteps.

Politics

18 h. ago 'We'll speak to our dead via an AI app in 5 years – and nobody will visit a cemetery'

A University of Cambridge professor predicts that, in a few years' time, we'll stop going to cemeteries and simply speak to our dead on AI-generated apps - although she's worried what this might mean for humankind

Events

18 h. ago Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard in intensive care after being shot

Player was shot inside car while visiting familyFreshman listed as in critical but stable condition A Florida State linebacker is in critical but stable condition after being shot while visiting family, the Seminoles said on Monday.Ethan Pritchard, a freshman from Sanford, Florida, was in intensive care at a Tallahassee-area hospital. He was shot Sunday evening while inside a vehicle outside apartments in Havana, about 15 miles northwest of Tallahassee, according to the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Tell us about a travel experience that benefited the local community

Share a tip on a grassroots activity or tour where your visit directly supported a local community – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays breakWhen tourism genuinely involves local communities it’s a win for all parties – guests enjoy more authentic experiences while the livelihoods of those they are visiting are boosted. We’d love to hear about initiatives you’ve sampled that support grassroots projects and communities – perhaps it was through a homestay programme, a community-run pub or cafe, or an indigenous tour guide keen to provide an insight into local culture. Tell us about where you went and those involved.The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Oktoberfest EXODUS: Tourists turn backs on Munich's beer bash in favour of Berlin's budget brews

Millions of tourists visit Munich every year for the Oktoberfest celebrations. But it seems travellers are switching the crowds, chaos and costs of Munich in favour of another city.

Politics