Category: World

Vatican says Pope Francis cancels his audiences because of a slight flu-like state days before a new trip. The Pontiff, aged 87, was due  to embark on a trip to Belgium and Luxembourg. The Vatican described the move as a “precaution” in the statement today. Francis is due to visit Luxembourg on Thursday before spending the rest of the week in Belgium, ending with a Mass in Brussels on Sunday. Francis, who has battled a series of health problems in recent years, has had a packed schedule of audiences since returning from a four-nation, 11-day journey through Asia on September ... Read more

Thousands of people in the tourism industry in Spain are demanding the government freeze a new decree coming into effect on October 1. The new rule, formally known as Royal Decree 933/2021, will force private rental accommodations and hotels to collect sensitive ‘reservation data’ from tourists. The new law has raised privacy concerns and fears over an increased workload on the tourism industry. Many are also worried that it will put Spain at a “disadvantage” as a tourist destination in Europe. While British tourists are used to handing over a copy of their passport, the new rule requires visitors to ... Read more

Albania has topped a list of the cheapest countries picked out by a money saving expert – with daily costs coming out at a mega cheap £22. A deal hunter has compiled a rundown of nine countries that are often overlooked by mainstream tourism.Jason Higgs, senior deals strategist at Bountii, picked nine countries that he says provide exceptional value for money – with the Balkans country coming out on top. He said that daily costs in Albania are as low as $30 (£22.53) but boast stunning mountain landscapes, charming coastal towns and a rich cultural heritage that toursist adore.  A ... Read more

Hailed as one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, this European city should be your next holiday destination. The incredible lights have a firm place on almost everyone’s bucket list, and what better place to experience them than Reykjavik, Iceland.  The city has several ‘light-hunting’ expeditions that set off in peak season, however the natural phenomenon is not as easy to spot as you may think. One of the best times to go is October, as there are longer, darker nights that are not too cold, so you can enjoy the expeditions without almost ... Read more

The Russian leader is said to be deepening ties in a key region due to Western sanctions. (Image: Getty) Russia is leveraging its oil wealth to deepen ties in Latin America as Western sanctions leave Russia isolated on the international stage, a new report claims. A study from think tank The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) says the Kremlin has been focussing its geopolitical strategy on countries like Venezuela, Brazil and Bolivia, exploiting the countries’ vulernabilies to build reliance on Russian trade. The European public policy institute presented the report, entitled: “Russia‘s Global Reach: The Kremlin Playbook in ... Read more

Antarctica’s “doomsday glacier” could be lost by the 23rd century and raise sea levels by several feet, scientists have warned. The colossal Thwaites, at roughly 74 miles across, is the widest glacier on the planet and an area equal to the island of Great Britain or the US state of Florida. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said that if it melted, alongside the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, sea levels would rise by 9.8ft. Dr Rob Larter, a marine geophysicist at BAS, said: “Thwaites has been retreating for more than 80 years, accelerating considerably over the past 30 years, and our ... Read more

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Europe is home to some of the wealthiest nations globally, according to the World Population Review (Image: Getty) Europe is home to some of the wealthiest nations globally, according to the World Population Review. The primary metric used to gauge national wealth, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reveals that the top six major European countries collectively surpassed £10.8trillion in 2020. Using World Bank and United Nations data from 2019, Europe’s 10 largest economies have been mapped by Instagram account nerdy.maps, with the ... Read more

The ‘most remote island in the world’ is owned by the UK and is a crazy 1,491 miles from any other people. Located in the middle of the South Atlantic lies Tristan da Cunha, a  British Overseas Territory where seabirds outnumber people. The UK’s relationship with the  remote island dates back to 1816, when the British military took possession of it. The British government is responsible for the island’s defence, internal security, external relations, and public service. There are a number of British Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic, these are: St Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, Falkland Islands, South ... Read more

Greece has experienced intense heat and drought for much of their summer. The major weather events have had a knock-on effect for most farmers with some even contemplating giving it all up. Unharvested crops lie sitting in fields, still clogged with mud from last year’s floods. Farmers like Achilleas Gerotolios, who owns a farm in the village of Sotirio, are in such a dire state that he is even considering giving it all up. Even farms who managed to survive the floods have another problem as temperatures hit up to 40 C causing crops to brown and be stunted. Gerotolios’ ... Read more

British tourists in the Czech Republic and Poland have been issued an urgent travel warning due to severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and flooding.  The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has advised travellers to check local conditions and follow guidance from authorities before embarking on any journeys to or within affected regions. In the Czech Republic, the FCDO stated that “heavy rain and flooding are causing severe disruption, especially in Southern and Eastern parts of the country.”  Tourists are urged to stay updated on local conditions and follow instructions from Czech authorities if in these areas.  Emergency services ... Read more