Global destruction of nature has reached unprecedented extremes. As the United Nations two-week COP16 biodiversity summit kicks off on Monday in Cali, Colombia, here is what you need to know about nature's rapid decline - and its importance to the global economy. ANIMALS AND PLANTS Plants and animals play significant parts in keeping nature humming, from cycling nutrients throughout an ecosystem to aerating soils and engineering rivers. Without plants and animals, the world would not be habitable for humans. However, more than a quarter of the world's known species, or a total of about 45,300 species, are now threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). FILE PHOTO: Najin (front) and her daughter Pa...
Read MoreYear: 2024
Hit musical "The Lion King" is celebrating its 25th anniversary in London's West End this weekend with a special gala performance on Sunday, after first opening its doors at the Lyceum Theatre on Oct. 19, 1999. Based on Disney's 1994 animation film, the stage adaptation, which has played in theatres around the world, has been seen in the British capital by over 19 million theatre goers. "I think that this piece is something that does transcend culture," director and writer Julie Taymor told Reuters, adding that the coming of age story about a lion cub called Simba who endures loss "is something every single human being has to go through." FILE PHOTO: An actor wears a costume on stage during the performance of a musical "Lion King" in London, Britain in 2023. Matt Crockett/Disney/...
Read MoreSojern, the leading digital marketing platform built for travel, has shared its latest travel data ahead of the holiday season and beyond. Travelers are eager to hit the road or skies, but economic concerns and inflation are widening the wealth gap. Compared to 2023, more consumers are opting for road trips over air travel, if they're traveling at all. Sojern data shows upscale and luxury hotel prices have risen by 1.7% and 1.4%, while economy lodging remains steady, reflecting growing demand for higher-end accommodations. "Unlike the pandemic where travelers chose less crowded destinations, those who are traveling are going back to more popular and expensive cities–and they're willing to pay a premium," said Noreen Henry, Chief Revenue Officer at Sojern. "We saw this with Taylor Swift...
Read MoreThe ultra-luxury expedition ship Seabourn Pursuit discovered the Titania, a German World War I-era vessel, during a submarine dive near Chile—marking the first sighting of the ship in 110 years Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury voyages and expedition travel, has made a historic discovery during a submarine dive off the coast of Alejandro Selkirk Island in Chile's Juan Fernández Archipelago. On October 14, 2024, Seabourn Pursuit, the ultra-luxury line's newest purpose-built expedition ship, uncovered the Titania, a German supplier ship lost for 110 years. Lying 95 meters below the surface, this remarkable find marks the first sighting of the Titania since it was scuttled in 1914. "Experiences like these are a testament to the spirit of expedition, and this discovery is nothi...
Read MoreThe regional assembly of Portugal's Azores Islands approved the creation of the largest protected marine area in the North Atlantic to reach international conservation goals well ahead of time. The approval late on Thursday places the archipelago at the forefront of global ocean conservation that aims to achieve the goals set by the United Nations of protecting 30% of the Earth's land and sea by 2030 under a global pact adopted last year. FILE PHOTO: Atlantic spotted dolphins leap out of the water off Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores archipelago, Portugal July 3, 2024. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi The network will encompass almost 300,000 square kilometres (115,830 square miles) and ensures the preservation of underwater mountain ranges and vulnerable marine ecosyst...
Read MoreHelsinki has achieved its target of being the world's most sustainable destination. The Finnish capital was ranked number one in the latest Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index, which was published on 16 October 2024. The Global Destination Sustainability Index measures the sustainability of travel destinations in four different categories using more than 70 indicators. The comparison includes more than a hundred cities throughout the world that have invested in sustainability. Helsinki has performed well in the GDS Index in the past: in 2023, our ranking was fourth. "Being named the world's most sustainable travel destination is proof of the long-term work that has been done in Helsinki. We are developing and growing tourism sustainably t...
Read MoreGlobal hospitality group Minor Hotels, in partnership with Boulevard Hotel Company Limited, has announced the official opening of NH Bangkok Sukhumvit Boulevard. This marks a significant milestone as the first NH Hotels & Resorts brand property in the Thai capital. Situated in the vibrant core of Bangkok's bustling commercial and shopping district, just off Sukhumvit Road, the 315-key property offers guests unparalleled convenience. Its prime location, only 200 meters from the BTS SkyTrain public transportation system, ensures guests can easily explore Bangkok’s attractions, world-class shopping centres and restaurants, and is within walking distance of the renowned Bumrungrad International Hospital. The hotel is just a 30-minute drive from Bangkok’s two airports, Suvarnabhum...
Read MoreShowcasing a whole new cabin experience in Business, Premium Economy and Economy onboard the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft Cathay Pacific is once again raising the bar for customer experience with the official unveiling of its all-new Business class, Aria Suite, together with its new Premium Economy and refreshed Economy onboard its retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline’s retrofitted 777-300ER debuted on its Hong Kong-Beijing route today (18 October) before progressively being deployed on other regional and long-haul routes. The new cabin experience was introduced at a special ceremony for distinguished guests, valued customers and Cathay members, members of the media and Cathay employees at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited’s (HA...
Read MoreHong Kong’s leader announced a cut in liquor taxes on Wednesday, in a bid to revive the Asian financial hub’s reputation as a travel destination with a vibrant nightlife and dining scene. After fulfilling Beijing’s long-standing imperative to enact a homegrown national security law, which has furthered concerns about the curtailing of civil liberties in the city, Chief Executive John Lee now faces challenges with economic competitiveness against regional rivals like Singapore, Japan and mainland Chinese metropolises. Changes in residents’ lifestyles and a wave of middle-class emigration during the COVID-19 pandemic have dampened local spending. Many residents now prefer to spend their weekends in mainland China, attracted by its lower prices and a wider variety of entertainment ...
Read MoreThe mass bleaching of coral reefs around the world since February 2023 is now the most extensive on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) told Reuters this week. A staggering 77% of the world’s coral reef areas – from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Indian oceans – have so far been subjected to bleaching-level heat stress, according to satellite data, as climate change fuels record and near-record ocean temperatures across the world. "This event is still increasing in spatial extent and we’ve broken the previous record by more than 11% in about half the amount of time,” said NOAA Coral Reef Watch coordinator Derek Manzello. “This could potentially have serious ramifications for the ultimate response of these reefs to these bleaching events.” FILE P...
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