Travel

Starting Monday, tourists and residents in Spain will face increased data collection requirements when staying in hotels, renting cars, or using other accommodation services. A new law mandates that businesses in the tourism sector collect and submit personal information about their customers to the Ministry of the Interior, citing national security reasons. The regulations, officially known as Royal Decree 933/2021, require businesses to gather passport details, home addresses, and payment methods for all guests over the age of 14. This information will be reported daily to the Ministry of the Interior and stored for three years. While the government maintains that the new rules are necessary to combat terrorism and organized crime, tourism experts have expressed concerns about privacy and potential delays at check-in desks. The Confederation of Spanish Hoteliers and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) has criticized the regulations, arguing that […]

A British backpacker believes a spontaneous decision to extend her stay in Cambodia may have saved her life after several tourists died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. Tash Moore, 21, was originally scheduled to be at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng on the night that two Australian teenagers, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, allegedly consumed contaminated drinks that led to their deaths. Ms. Moore, who had heard rumors of the deaths and received warnings about the hostel, decided to rebook her stay at a different location. However, she noted that even after the deaths became public knowledge, bars in Vang Vieng continued to offer free shots, raising concerns about the ongoing risks. "In the clubs they were offering free shots and if you didn't take them they'd look at you, like 'why won't you have the free […]

A controversial American live-streamer, known online as "Johnny Somali," is facing potential imprisonment in South Korea for his provocative and offensive actions, highlighting the rise of so-called "nuisance influencers" seeking online fame through disruptive behavior. Ramsey Khalid Ismael, 24, has been indicted by Seoul prosecutors for causing a "commotion" at a convenience store, a charge that could carry a prison sentence of up to five years. He is also banned from leaving the country while authorities continue their investigation. Ismael has gained notoriety for his offensive video stunts, which have led to bans from multiple social media platforms. He has been accused of harassing locals in various Asian countries in an apparent attempt to boost his online viewership. Earlier this month, Ismael sparked outrage in South Korea after posting a video in which he allegedly desecrated a monument dedicated to […]

India's first dedicated solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, has achieved a significant breakthrough in tracking a coronal mass ejection (CME), offering valuable data that could help protect Earth's infrastructure from future solar storms. The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (Velc), a key instrument onboard Aditya-L1, captured data on July 16th that allowed scientists to precisely determine the time and origin of a CME. CMEs are massive explosions of energy and charged particles from the Sun's outer atmosphere that can disrupt Earth's magnetic field and cause widespread technological disruptions. Professor R Ramesh of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, who designed Velc, explained the potential impact of CMEs, stating, "Imagine this huge fireball hurtling towards Earth. At its top speed, it would take just about 15 hours to cover the 150 million km Earth-Sun distance." The CME tracked by Velc originated on the Earth-facing […]

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigeria's legislature to prioritize funding and reforms for the nation's space program, emphasizing its critical role in driving national development and maintaining Africa's technological leadership. Speaking at the 25th-anniversary celebration of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Tinubu highlighted the transformative potential of space exploration. The President, represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji, stressed the importance of strengthening NASRDA's legislative framework and increasing budgetary support. He noted the significant shift from an era when space exploration was exclusively dominated by major global powers to a time when African nations can play pivotal roles. Key points of Tinubu's address included: Calling for enhanced legislative support to solidify Nigeria's position in the fourth industrial revolution Highlighting space technology's crucial role in understanding Earth's surface Emphasizing space technologies' importance in communication, […]

The idyllic Laotian town of Vang Vieng, renowned for its stunning scenery and vibrant backpacker scene, is grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that claimed the lives of six tourists. Suspected methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol has cast a shadow over the town, raising concerns about safety and prompting warnings from authorities worldwide. Despite the tragedy, Vang Vieng's popularity among young travelers remains largely undiminished. The town's reputation for affordable adventure and a laid-back atmosphere continues to attract backpackers from across the globe, particularly those following the "Banana Pancake Trail" through Southeast Asia. While the recent deaths have sparked anxieties, particularly among young female travelers, many backpackers remain undeterred, expressing confidence in the safety of the town and emphasizing the need for caution when consuming alcohol. "I think we're going to give the tubing a miss," shared two […]

Tragedy has struck again as a second Australian teenager, Holly Bowles, has died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. This brings the total number of foreign tourists who have lost their lives after allegedly consuming tainted alcohol in the Southeast Asian country to six. Ms. Bowles, 19, passed away in a Thai hospital more than a week after falling ill in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng. Her friend, Bianca Jones, also 19, and British lawyer Simone White, 28, were previously confirmed to have died from the suspected poisoning. An American man and two Danish women are also among the victims. Holly's family released a statement expressing their devastation and remembering her vibrant spirit and love for life. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong offered her condolences and reiterated warnings about the dangers of methanol poisoning. Methanol, a toxic alcohol […]

A British woman has become the fifth victim in a suspected mass methanol poisoning incident in Laos, adding to the growing tragedy that has struck tourists visiting the popular Southeast Asian destination. Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from the UK, passed away after reportedly consuming tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng, a town popular with backpackers. This follows the earlier confirmation of the death of 19-year-old Australian Bianca Jones, who also fell victim to the suspected poisoning. Her friend, Holly Bowles, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Two Danish women and an American man have also died in connection with the incident. Authorities in Laos are investigating the source of the contaminated drinks, which are believed to have been laced with methanol, a toxic alcohol often found in bootleg liquor. Methanol poisoning can cause severe health complications and even death, with symptoms […]

Peruvian authorities have apprehended a man attempting to smuggle hundreds of live tarantulas out of the country. The man, who was bound for South Korea via France, was caught at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima with the spiders strapped to his abdomen in ziplock bags. Police detained the individual, and Peru's environmental crimes prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident. The tarantulas, believed to have been illegally collected from the Madre de Dios region in the Peruvian Amazon, are now under the care of authorities. Wildlife specialists have emphasized that tarantulas are a threatened species and that this smuggling attempt represents a significant case of illegal wildlife trafficking. The global trade in wildlife is estimated to be worth millions of dollars, with endangered species often targeted for their rarity and perceived value. This incident is not isolated. In […]