Croatia Opens Adriatic Coast Bridge, Linking Divided Region

Croatia has opened a long-awaited bridge connecting two parts of the country’s Adriatic Sea coastline while bypassing a small sliver of Bosnia’s territory.

Top officials and guests gathered in the evening for a formal opening ceremony that included a flyover by military jets, speeches, performances and fireworks.

Earlier Tuesday, many Croats braved summer heat to be among the first to cross the Peljesac bridge on foot as it opened for pedestrians ahead of the official inauguration.

Co-funded by the European Union and built by a Chinese company, the elegant, cable-stayed bridge with six pylons is a rare venture of its kind amid concerns in Europe over China’s bid to boost its economic influence through investment in infrastructure.

In a video message aired at the opening ceremony, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said the bridge “illustrates friendly relations” between his country and Croatia, but also between China and the EU.

“China and the EU present important political forces and leading global economic powers,” said Li.

The 2.4-kilometer (1.5-mile) bridge spans the Adriatic Sea to link Croatia’s mainland to the Peljesac peninsula in the south, allowing easier access to the country’s most important tourism destination — the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic described the day as historic for the country, which joined the EU in 2013 after splitting from the former Yugoslavia and going through a war in the 1990s.

“I am overwhelmed by the feelings of pride, joy and gratitude,” said Plenkovic.

The Yugoslav federation had no internal borders between its six republics, including Croatia and Bosnia. But when it broke up in the early 1990s, the two parts of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline were split by a narrow strip of Bosnia.

Both residents and tourists had to pass border checks, which slowed down traffic and left the inhabitants of the southern area feeling isolated from the rest of the country.

That area includes Dubrovnik, a stunning medieval town that has been on UNESCO’s protected heritage list and is Croatia’s biggest tourist attraction.

The bridge finally became a reality in 2017 when the EU allocated 357 million euros ($365m), which covered much of the 526 million-euro ($533) cost. The China Road and Bridge Corporation in 2018 won an international tender to construct the bridge.

The project, however, had faced criticism from Bosnia, whose officials complained of unresolved border issues and said the bridge would hamper access to its part of the coastline.

Known for its stunning nature and hundreds of Adriatic Sea islands, Croatia is a major tourism destination, attracting millions from Europe and all over the world every summer. Tourism also is key for Croatia’s economy, which remains among the weakest in the EU.

By DARKO BANDIC

Jackie Robinson Museum Opens After 14 Years Of Planning

NEW YORK (AP) — Long dreamed about and in development for longer than the big league career of the man it honors, the Jackie Robinson Museum opened Tuesday in Manhattan with a gala ceremony attended by the widow of the barrier-breaking ballplayer and two of his children.

Rachel Robinson, who turned 100 on July 19, watched the half-hour outdoor celebration from a wheelchair in the 80-degree Fahrenheit (27-degree Celsius) heat, then cut a ribbon to cap a project launched in 2008.

Her 72-year-old daughter, Sharon, also looked on from a wheelchair and 70-year-old son David spoke to the crowd of about 200 sitting on folding chairs arrayed in a closed-off section of Varick Street, a major thoroughfare where the 19,380-square-foot museum is located. It opens to the public on Sept. 5

“The issues in baseball, the issues that Jackie Robinson challenged in 1947, they’re still with us,” David Robinson said. “The signs of white only have been taken down, but the complexity of equal opportunity still exists.”

Rachel Robinson announced the museum on April 15, 2008, the 61st anniversary of Jackie breaking the big league color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. Robinson became NL Rookie of the Year, the 1949 NL batting champion and MVP, a seven-time All-Star and a World Series champion in 1955. He hit .313 with 141 homers and 200 stolen bases in 11 seasons and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962.

Robinson, who died in 1972, had an impact beyond baseball, galvanizing a significant slice of American public opinion and boosting the civil rights movement.

“There’s nowhere on the globe where dream is attached to our name — or our country’s name,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “There’s not a German dream. There’s not a French dream. There’s not a Polish dream. Darn it, there’s an American dream. And this man and wife took that dream and forced America and baseball to say you’re not going to be a dream on a piece of paper, you’re going to be a dream in life. We are greater because of No. 42 and because he had amazing wife that understood that dream and vision.”

A gala dinner was held Monday night to preview the museum, which contains 4,500 artifacts, including playing equipment and items such as Robinson’s 1946 minor league contract for $600 a month and his 1947 rookie contract for a $5,000 salary. The museum also holds a collection of 40,000 images and 450 hours of footage.

A 15-piece band played at the ceremony, attended by former pitcher CC Sabathia, former NL president Len Coleman and former Mets owner Fred Wilpon, along with players’ association head Tony Clark and Hall of Fame president Josh Rawitch.

“Without him, there would be no me,” Sabathia said. “I wouldn’t have been able to live out my dream of playing Major League Baseball.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, director Spike Lee (wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers cap) and former tennis star Billie Jean King also were on hand.

“It seems like we’re more divided than ever,” King said. “People like Jackie Robinson was a great reminder every single morning, every single evening that we have to do the right thing every day.”

Original projections had a 2010 opening and $25 million cost. The Great Recession caused a delay.

Ground finally was broken on April 27, 2017, when the Jackie Robinson Foundation said it had raised $23.5 million of a planned $42 million and the museum was intended to open in 2019. The pandemic caused more delays, and the total raised has risen to $38 million, of which $2.6 million was contributed by New York City.

Tickets will cost $18 for adults and $15 for students, seniors and children. The second floor includes an education center, part of a plan envisioned by Rachel Robinson.

“She wanted a fixed tribute to her husband, where people could come and learn about him, but also be inspired,” said foundation president Della Britton, who headed the project. “We want to be that place, as young people now say, a safe space, where people will talk about race and not worry about the initial backlash that happens when you say something on social media.”

David Robinson said his father would have been proud.

“He was a man who used the word ‘we,’” David said. “I think today Jackie Robinson would say I accept this honor, but I accept this honor on behalf of something far beyond my individual self, far beyond my family, far beyond even my race. Jackie Robinson would say don’t think of you standing on my shoulders, I think of myself as standing on the shoulders of my mother, who was a sharecropper in Georgia, my grandmother, who was born a slave.”

By RONALD BLUM

Passenger Rail Returns To Burlington, Vermont To New York After Almost 70 Years

After a nearly 70-year absence, a passenger train running from Vermont’s revitalized Burlington train station to New York City is scheduled to head south Friday as part of a nationwide renewal of interest in rail travel. Last November, President Joe Biden, who famously rode Amtrak between Washington and his Delaware home during his 36 years in the Senate, signed legislation that includes $102 billion for passenger and freight rail investment that will help Amtrak improve and expand its services over time.

Among the projects that will be funded with the help of the rail infrastructure money is a a planned $11 billion train tunnel under the Hudson River linking New Jersey and New York.

Vermont’s new Burlington rail expansion caps a nearly 30-year-long effort that saw about $117 million spent on rail infrastructure and comes a year after Amtrak, on its 50th anniversary as the nation’s passenger rail service, announced a $75 billion, 15-year-plan to expand passenger rail around the country.

Amtrak, which now serves 46 states, has recently been restoring service that was disrupted by the pandemic and adding service in other parts of the country, including New England, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Jim Mathews, president of the Rail Passengers Association — an organization working to expand and improve passenger service — said the goal of expanding passenger rail has been around for decades but has seen a boost more recently.

“I know in some quarters that might sound a bit corny, but we have advocates in our coalition who have literally spent their entire lives dedicated to advancing these arguments,” Mathews said in an email. “When the tide began to turn in 2017, it was in part because of this slow buildup of support and evidence that this is good public policy.”

Mathews said his organization has conducted studies that show the benefits of passenger rail, including that it produces gains across the board in jobs, incomes, business-to-business transactions and even local and state tax revenues.

“We have also been able to show Congress going back to 2017 how important passenger rail is for the disabled and the marginalized, for whom trains in many cases are the only form of public transportation available,” he said. “We have also been able to show compelling environmental benefits, as an exceptionally green way to travel.”

Vermont State Sen. Dick Mazza, the longtime chair of the Senate Transportation Committee who worked for years to help bring passenger rail back to Burlington, said it has been an unexpectedly long process to accomplish the bipartisan vision of bringing passenger rail to the state’s largest city, which has a population of about 45,000.

“We said, ‘Well, you know, it’s a long road, but someday it’s going to make a lot of sense for Burlington to New York City,’ not knowing what 20 years later would bring,” he said.

The new Burlington service is an extension of the Ethan Allen Express, which has run between New York City and Rutland since the mid-1990s.

It was around that time, shortly after Amtrak started serving Rutland, that the state — boosted largely by former Gov. Howard Dean, his administration, its successors and the congressional delegation — began applying for a series of federal grants needed to upgrade the rails and other infrastructure, such as rail crossings and stations. The state money that was kicked in over the intervening years enabled the entire stretch to be brought up to passenger rail standards.

Dean was ridiculed by some for his support of rail, and he had to overcome some local opposition. Today, he says he’s happy to leave his car at home in Burlington and ride the train to see his grandchildren in Philadelphia, changing trains in New York.

“You don’t want to use a car in a big city if you can help it,” Dean said. “There is no garage, no driving, no hassle, no rude people.”

The 7 1/2 hour trip between Burlington and New York will be about two hours longer than driving. The top speed between Burlington and Rutland will be 59 miles per hour (94.95 kph), but that could be increased with future technology upgrades.

Travelore News: JetBlue Agrees To Buy Spirit For $3.8B After Bidding War

JetBlue Airways has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion and create the nation’s fifth-largest airline if the deal can win approval from antitrust regulators.

The agreement Thursday capped a months-long bidding war and arrives one day after Spirit’s attempt to merge with fellow budget carrier Frontier Airlines fell apart.

Spirit CEO Ted Christie is being thrust into the awkward position of defending a sale to JetBlue after arguing vehemently against it, saying that antitrust regulators would never let it happen.

“A lot has been said over the last few months obviously, always with our stakeholders in mind,” Christie said on CNBC. “We have been listening to the folks at JetBlue, and they have a lot of good thoughts on their plans for that.”

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes has argued all along that a larger JetBlue would create more competition for the four airlines that control about 80% of the U.S. market — American, United, Delta and Southwest.

Shares of Spirit, based in Miramar, Florida, rose 3.5% at the opening bell Thursday, to $25.15, still below the price that JetBlue is offering. JetBlue shares were essentially flat.

Spirit Airlines regularly ends up as the worst, or close to the worst, when airlines are ranked by the rate of consumer complaints. Still, some consumer advocates worry that fares will rise if it disappears.

Spirit and similar rivals Frontier and Allegiant charge rock-bottom fares that appeal to the most budget-conscious leisure travelers, although they tack on more fees that can raise the cost of flying.

“Spirit is going to disappear, and with it, its low cost structure,” said William McGee of the anti-merger American Economic Liberties Project. “Once Spirit is absorbed (into JetBlue), there is no question that fares are going to go up.”

Others, however, say that Frontier will grow — it has a large number of planes on order — and fill any gap left by Spirit in the cheapest segment of the air-travel market.

JetBlue and Spirit will continue to operate independently until the agreement is approved by regulators and Spirit shareholders, with their separate loyalty programs and customer accounts.

The companies said they expect to conclude the regulatory process and close the transaction no later than the first half of 2024. If that happens, the combined airline would be based in JetBlue’s hometown of New York and led by Hayes. It would have a fleet of 458 planes.

JetBlue said Thursday that it would pay $33.50 per share in cash for Spirit, including a prepayment of $2.50 per share in cash payable once Spirit stockholders approve the transaction. There is also a ticking fee of 10 cents per share each month starting in January 2023 through closing to compensate Spirit shareholders for any delay in winning regulatory approval.

If the deal doesn’t close due to antitrust reasons, JetBlue will pay Spirit a reverse break-up fee of $70 million and pay Spirit shareholders $400 million, minus any amounts paid to the shareholders prior to termination.

Spirit and Frontier announced their plan to merge in February, and Spirit’s board stood by that deal even after JetBlue made a higher-priced offer in April. However, Spirit’s board could never convince the airline’s shareholders to go along. A vote on the merger was postponed four times, then cut short Wednesday when Spirit and Frontier announced they were terminating their agreement, which made a Spirit-JetBlue coupling inevitable.

JetBlue anticipates $600 million to $700 million in annual savings once the transaction is complete. Annual revenue for the combined company is anticipated to be about $11.9 billion, based on 2019 revenues.

By DAVID KOENIG and MICHELLE CHAPMAN

Travelore News: New UK Rail Strike Brings Train Services To A Crawl

Britain’s railway network ground to a crawl on Wednesday after 40,000 staff walked off the job in a dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions. Train companies said only about a fifth of services across the country were due to run.

The 24-hour strike by cleaners, signalers, maintenance workers and station staff comes a month after the country’s most disruptive rail walkout in three decades brought trains to a halt across the U.K at the start of the summer holiday season.

The dispute centers on pay, working conditions and job security as Britain’s railways struggle to adapt to travel and commuting habits changed — perhaps forever — by the coronavirus pandemic. There were almost 1 billion train journeys in the U.K. in the year to March, compared to 1.7 billion in the 12 months before the pandemic, and rail companies are looking to cut costs and staffing after two years in which emergency government funding kept them afloat.

Negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute are deadlocked. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers says employers’ latest pay offer falls short amid soaring inflation — currently at 9.4% — and the worst cost of living crisis in decades.

It accuses the Conservative government of preventing train companies from making a better offer. The government says it is not directly involved in the dispute pitting the union against privately owned train-operating companies and the government-operated Network Rail infrastructure firm.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the union “will continue to negotiate in good faith, but we will not be bullied or cajoled by anyone.”

“The government need to stop their interference in this dispute so the rail employers can come to a negotiated settlement with us,” he said.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accused union leaders of “trying to cause as much disruption as possible to the day-to-day lives of millions of hardworking people around the country.”

He said the strike had been “cynically timed” to disrupt a semi-final of the European women’s soccer tournament on Wednesday in Milton Keynes, north of London, and the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Thursday.

The union staged three one-day strikes last month that stopped services across much of the country.

More strikes are planned for Saturday, when train drivers are set to walk out, and on three days in August.

It’s turning out to be a summer of travel disruption, in Britain and around the world. Air travelers in many countries are facing delays and disruption as airports struggle to cope with staff shortages and skyrocketing demand for flights after two pandemic-hit years.

Truck drivers and Britons heading off on holiday by ferry faced hours-long waits at the port of Dover over the weekend amid delays caused by Brexit and a shortage of French border officials.

Britain’s Conservative government has put blame for the rail strikes squarely on the union, and has changed the law to make it easier for employers to recruit contract staff to do strikers’ jobs.

Polls suggest public opinion is split, with many people expressing sympathy for the rail workers.

“The workers have a right to strike,” said commuter Fabrice Kabamba at London’s Waterloo station. “As an employee myself, struggling to pay bills, I can sympathize with them.”

By JILL LAWLESS

Travelore News: German Strike Forces Lufthansa To Cancel Hundreds Of Flights

Lufthansa says it will have to cancel almost all flights at its main Frankfurt and Munich hubs on Wednesday because of a strike by its German ground staff, affecting tens of thousands of passengers in the latest travel turmoil to hit Europe.

The airline said Tuesday that the strike will force the cancellation of 678 flights at Frankfurt, 32 of them on Tuesday and the rest on Wednesday. It also is canceling 345 flights at Munich, including 15 on Tuesday.

Lufthansa said that 92,000 passengers will be affected by the Frankfurt cancellations and 42,000 by the Munich disruption. It said those affected will be contacted Tuesday and rebooked on alternative flights where possible but warned that “the capacities available for this are very limited.”

The company said the strike may still lead to “individual flight cancellations or delays” on Thursday and Friday.

The ver.di service workers’ union announced the one-day strike on Monday as it seeks to raise pressure on Lufthansa in negotiations on pay for about 20,000 employees of logistical, technical and cargo subsidiaries of the airline.

The walkout comes at a time when airports in Germany and across Europe already are seeing disruption and long lines for security checks because of staff shortages and soaring travel demand.

As inflation soars, strikes for higher pay by airport crews in France and Scandinavian Airlines pilots in Sweden, Norway and Denmark have deepened the chaos for travelers who have faced last-minute cancellations, lengthy delays, lost luggage or long waits for bags in airports across Europe.

Travel is booming this summer after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, swamping airlines and airports that don’t have enough workers after pandemic-era layoffs. Airports like London’s Heathrow and Amsterdam’s Schiphol have limited daily flights or passenger numbers.

The Lufthansa strike is set to start early Wednesday and end early Thursday. Such “warning strikes” are a common tactic in German labor negotiations and typically last from several hours to a day or two.

Ver.di is calling for a 9.5% pay increase this year and says an offer by Lufthansa earlier this month, which would involve a deal for an 18-month period, falls far short of its demands.

Lufthansa’s chief personnel officer, Michael Niggemann, argued that “this so-called warning strike in the middle of the peak summer travel season is simply no longer proportionate.”

UK To Host 2023 Eurovision After Ukraine Ruled Too Risky

Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be staged in Britain, organizers announced Monday, after concluding it is too risky to hold the much-loved pop extravaganza in the designated host country, Ukraine.

The U.K. said the 2023 event would be a celebration of Ukrainian culture and creativity.

Ukraine won the right to host the glitzy pan-continental music competition when its entry, from the folk-rap ensemble Kalush Orchestra, won this year’s contest in May. Britain’s Sam Ryder was second.

The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, said it had concluded that “regrettably, next year’s event could not be held in Ukraine for safety and security reasons.” It said Britain’s BBC had agreed to broadcast the show on behalf of Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC.

“The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine,” said Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of UA:PBC. “We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us.”

The fate of the 2023 contest had featured in talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Johnson said the two had agreed that “wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine.”

“As we are now hosts, the U.K. will honor that pledge directly — and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends,” Johnson said.

Ukraine has won the contest three times and hosted Eurovision in 2005 and 2017. The competition has been held in Britain eight times, most recently in 1998, the year after the U.K. last won.

The BBC said bidding to be the host city for the 2023 contest will open next week. London, Manchester and Sheffield all said Monday that they would apply.

Founded in 1956 to help unite a continent scarred by World War II, Eurovision has grown to include more than 40 countries, including non-European nations such as Israel and Australia.

Organizers strive to keep pop and politics apart — banning overtly political symbols and lyrics — but global tensions have often imposed themselves on the contest. Russia was kicked out of this year’s competition because of its invasion of Ukraine in February.

By JILL LAWLESS

Alaska Experiencing Wildfires It’s Never Seen Before

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska is burning this year in ways rarely or ever seen, from the largest wildfire in a typically mainly fireproof southwest region to a pair of blazes that ripped through forests and produced smoke that blew hundreds of miles to the the Bering Sea community of Nome, where the normally crystal clear air was pushed into the extremely unhealthy category.

Already more than 530 wildfires have burned an area the size of Connecticut and the usual worst of the fire season lays ahead. While little property has burned, some residents have been forced to evacuate and one person was killed — a helicopter pilot died last month when he crashed while attempting to carry a load of equipment for firefighters.

Recent rains have helped but longer-term forecasts are showing a pattern similar to 2004, when July rains gave way to high-pressure systems, hot days, low humidity and lightning strikes that fueled Alaska’s worst fire year.

In 2004, the acreage burned by mid-July was about the same as now, But by the time that fire season ended, 10,156 square miles (26,304 square kilometers) were charred.

“The frequency of these big seasons has doubled from what it was in the second half of the 20th century,” said Rick Thoman, a climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska’s International Arctic Research Center. “And there’s no reason to think that’s not going to continue.” .

Heat waves and droughts, which are exacerbated by a warming climate, are making wildfires more frequent, destructive, and harder to fight in many places. This month, wildfires have torn through Portugal, Spain, France, England and Germany, which have seen record-high temperatures.

California has recorded its largest, most destructive and deadliest wildfires in the last five years and with the state deep in drought authorities are girding for what may be a late summer and fall filled with smoke and flames.

Alaska, the nation’s largest state, also has been dry. Parts saw an early snow melt and then a largely rain-free June that dried out the duff layer — the band of decaying moss and grasses that blankets the floors of boreal forests and the tundra. This organic matter can be up to 2 feet (0.61 meters) thick but in various stages of decay.

On May 31, a lightning strike on the duff layer in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta started the East Fork fire, an area in southwest Alaska that rarely burns. Two communities with a combined population of about 700 were threatened but no mandatory evacuations were ordered in what became the largest wildfire ever in the delta at 259 square miles (671 square kilometers). Firefighters were able to protect the communities.

A fire like that one was directly attributable to climate change, Thoman said. There’s more vegetation growing on the tundra, willow and alder trees are thicker in the transition area between the tundra and forests, and spruce along river valleys are growing thicker and moving farther uphill from those valleys.

“There’s been a significant increase in the amount of fuel available, and that’s from decades of warmer springs and summers in the region, direct result of a warming climate,” he said. “And, of course, fires with more fuels available burn hotter. They burn longer. They’re more resistant to changes in weather.”

In Alaska, a little more than half of all wildfires are started by lightning and the rest are caused by humans accidentally, intentionally or through negligence. Of the 4,687 square miles (12,140 square kilometers) burned so far this year, only 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) have been from human-caused fires.

It isn’t feasible or necessary to try to fight all Alaskan wildfires. Fire play a key role in the state’s ecology by cleaning out low-lying debris, thinning trees and renewing habitats for plants and animals, so Alaska typically lets most burn themselves out or wait until rain and snow does the job. Firefighting resources are used to battle fires in populated areas.

So far this year, there’s been about 145,000 lightning strikes in Alaska and adjacent areas of Canada, as counted by the Bureau of Land Management’s lightning detection network. A staggering 42% occurred between July 5-11 when weather systems produced rain but about 50 fires also were started.

“Having concentrated lightning, where we get a significant fraction of the entire season’s lightning in a row in a few days, that’s actually fairly typical for Alaska lightning,” Thoman said. “Lots of lightning in that concentrated area that did spark quite a few fires in areas that had not had fires up to that point.”

While there’s been little loss of property, smoke from the fires has caused dangerous breathing conditions. In one case, two fires burning near Lake Iliamna joined and in one day burned about 75 square miles (194 square kilometers) of boreal forest, creating smoke and ash that strong winds transported hundreds of miles northwest to Nome, pushing the air quality index into the extremely unhealthy category.

“I would never have thought that you could get that poor of air quality back 400 miles from the active fires, and that is a testament to how hot those fires were,” Thoman said.

EU Tourists Could Soon Have To Apply For ‘Permission To Travel’ Before Entering The UK

The UK is planning to implement “contactless” border crossings in UK airports from 2024, according to Home Secretary Priti Patel.

So what does this mean? It will allow some passengers to enter the country without using an electronic passport gate or speaking to a Border Force officer. Instead, they may have to upload a photo of themselves and submit it to the Home Office before they travel.

The scheme is intended to reduce queues at the border, “helping to speed up legitimate journeys to the UK”.

Travellers will undergo “pre-screening” says the government, allowing them to be “identified at the border using the latest technology.”

“As Home Secretary I have been focused on taking back control of our immigration system through my New Plan for Immigration,” Priti Patel said.

“This includes ensuring we have a border that is fit for the 21st century which allows travellers to get a visa and pass through the border easily, while maintaining national security.”

Facial recognition technology could be used to make these “contactless corridors” possible, British newspaper The Times reports. It would require international travellers to submit biographic and biometric details, like photos of their faces through the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme before they fly.

What is the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme?

As part of a plan to transform the UK Border Force, the Home Office intends to introduce a ‘Permission to Travel’ scheme from 2023. Everyone wishing to visit the UK will need permission before they travel.

UK and Irish passport holders won’t need to do anything but everyone else will need to apply for a visa or ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation’.

All visitors who don’t currently need a visa to enter the UK, including those from the EU, will have to apply for an ETA which could cost around £18 (€21). A document detailing the Home Office’s plan says they will have to provide biographic, biometric and contact details and answer a short set of “suitability questions”.

This is not a visa - but will allow an individual to board a flight to travel to the UK. It will be similar to the US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) which was introduced after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The scheme is due to be trialled from March 2023 with visitors from Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain. It could be introduced for the rest of the world before the end of next year.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/

Canada Is The Only Country In The World Adding Travel Restrictions

Covid may no longer be the serious health emergency it once was, largely due to herd immunity and vaccination, but instead of dropping all travel rules collectively, some countries continue outpacing other slower ones. In the Western Hemisphere, Canada is one of a very few that is not only keeping strict border regulations in place, but adding even more.

In recent weeks, countries like Malta, Greece and the British Virgin Islands have all eased restrictions, with Greece going as far as allowing infected tourists to bypass quarantine and carry on traveling as they wish. Even Australia, where Australians themselves had difficulties returning to, has fully reopened for tourism without any health-related requirements.

Interestingly, Canada is not jumping on this bandwagon:

Canada Is Possibly The Strictest Western Country Right Now

At a time when strict travel rules are becoming a thing of the past, North America’s leading nations are staunchly refusing to join their counterparts in moving on from Covid. Canada may be the one making headlines lately, but the United States has also repeatedly refused to lift its remaining Covid curbs, including that of mandatory vaccination for tourists arriving in the country.

The White House has given no indication as to when the country will start treating Covid as endemic, and while the lack of transparency, and a clear reopening plan, may be a nuisance to restriction-wary travelers, the situation is more complex North of the border. After all, as long as they are vaccinated, tourists can still enter the U.S. largely stress-free.

In Canada, the reality is a tad more complicated: two and a half years into the pandemic, Canada still considers travelers a potential health threat. It does allow fully immunized individuals to enter without pre-departure testing or quarantine, a privilege not extended to the non-immunized, but it has not yet removed its much-criticized random testing policy.

This means that, arriving in Canada today, all travelers are subject to mandatory random Covid test on arrival. Should they be selected, they must undergo the procedure at off-site testing booths, adding to the series of travel woes affecting air passengers in Canada – including a wave of flight cancellations and disputes with Canadian airlines.

The measure had been paused momentarily at the peak of the travel season, in a bid to ease congestion at airports and give staff under pressure some breathing room, but instead of making the change permanent, Canada quickly reinstated them after only a month. Naturally, Government opponents decried the move.

IATA Has Officially Joined Government Opponents In Criticizing The Move

Some of Ottawa’s fiercest critics told CTV News there is a ‘lack of science’ behind the decision, and now IATA – the International Air Transport Association – is joining them in denouncing the Government’s inflexible policies. In fact, IATA has been clear these are now ‘out of step’ with the global trend, and are ‘partly’ behind the recent struggles plaguing Canada’s aviation sector.

According to Peter Cerda, the Association’s Vice President for the Americas, Canada is now a ‘total outlier’ in managing Covid and travel. Cerda claims that, while other countries are ‘rolling back restrictions’, Ottawa is stubbornly reinstating them, possibly referring to the return of random testing at some of the country’s busiest airports.

‘The Government should follow the lead of its peers, including, for example, Australia‘, adds Cerda, citing Australia’s infamously tough stance on travel at the early stages of the pandemic, and that has now been completely abandoned. He concludes that, by ‘throwing more red tape at the pandemic’, those in power are actually keeping tourism from recovering.

The data coming from cross-border associations in the U.S. and Canada, such as the Peace Bridge Authority and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, all support Cerda’s assertions. According to them, traffic levels going into Canada remain roughly at half of pre-pandemic levels, hurting border communities and local Canadian businesses the most.

IATA Expects Ottawa To Fall In Line Sooner Rather Than Later

IATA is openly at loggerheads with the Government of Canada over their overly restrictive mandates, and are calling for:

Random testing to be removed The vaccination requirement for inbound international travel to be lifted All in-flight and airport mask mandates to be lifted now they are not needed in most indoor settings The ArriveCAN app to be re-purposed*

*IATA officials believe Canada’s ArriveCAN app, where internationals arrivals are expected to upload personal and health information, should be used solely for ‘customs and immigration purposes’, not for storing or validating health, vaccine, or any Covid-related information.

IATA believes that scrapping the above will help Canada’s aviation sector recover sooner, and significantly reduce delays at the border. Currently, airlines are required to provide a list of passengers who have filled out their ArriveCAN form up to one hour after departure to Canada, further limiting resources and taking up staff’s precious time.

Canadians Themselves Are Not Too Happy Either

On top of that, Canadians themselves are extremely displeased at how their representatives are handling the situation. The latest Ipsos poll, released on July 15, gathered that only 37 per cent of respondents agreed the Federal Government is ‘doing enough’ to tackle the delays and cancellations. The vast majority of Canadians, or 63 per cent, disagree.

So far, Ottawa has proven to be unyielding, and much like their partners in Washington, has not set out a clear path towards the endemic phase of the disease. The Canadian Government has also not responded to IATA’s remarks. As of July 2022, in order to enter Canada, foreigners need to fulfill all of the below:

Be fully vaccinated against Covid* Download the ArriveCAN app Consent to random testing if selected upon arrival *Tourists – including American citizens not residing in Canada – can use https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start to find out whether they are eligible for travel or not.

Source: https://www.traveloffpath.com/

Quito, World Capital Of Birdwatching

Home to avian species of all colors and sizes, Quito is one of the most diverse cities on the planet when it comes to birds. The variety of its urban ecosystem allows you to appreciate everything from soaring condors to tiny colorful hummingbirds.

Birdwatching has been a popular visitor pastime in Quito for more than 30 years, making the Ecuadorian capital South America’s gateway for "bird seekers." With more than 1,660 avian species, Ecuador boasts the highest density of bird types in the world. The forests, mountains, moors and other natural ecosystems that are present in Quito invite visitors to discover the magic of birds in an environment of exuberant nature.

Quito is home to more than 542 species, including 64 that are endemic to the region, including the black-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), the brown wood-rail (Aramides wolfi) and the banded ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus). The emblematic Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a stand-out. With a wingspan of up to 3 meters (10 feet) and median weight of 12 kilograms (26.5 lbs.), it is the largest flying bird in the world and can be seen gliding in rural areas of Quito such as the Antisana. Another species present in this area is the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), a bird noted for its unique courtship dance.

The northwest of Quito is the perfect micro-destination for birdwatching. Located within the Chocó Andino biosphere reserve, declared protected by UNESCO in 2018, it allows you to admire hummingbirds, parrots, toucans and quetzals. To the southeast of Quito are the Cayambe-Coca and Antisana National Parks, essential places for those seeking ecotourism and adventure tourism destinations where ideal trekking routes can be mapped out for the purpose of birdwatching. For urban birdwatching, the city’s botanical garden, which features a great variety of migratory species, stands out, as does Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park, home of the crimson-mantled woodpecker (Colaptes rivolii brevirostris).

Quito Tourism is participating in this year’s Global Bird Fair to promote the richness and biodiversity that the “Capital of the Center of the World” offers birdwatchers, or birders. Taking place at the Rutland Showground in Oakham, United Kingdom, the event affords Quito the opportunity to present its birdwatching offer, which has made it one of the most important destinations in the world in the development of this activity, in a global forum.

More information at visitquito.ec

International flights From Eilat’s Ramon Airport To Start In August

“International flights from Eilat are big news, for Eilat and Israel,” says Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri.

The Ramon International Airport, named in memory of Ilan and Asaf Ramon, near Eilat in southern Israel, Jan. 21, 2019. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

International flights from Eilat’s Ramon Airport will begin in August, the Israel Airports Authority and the Eilat Municipality announced on Tuesday.

Arkia Airlines will operate two weekly flights from the airport to Georgia and Cyprus, according to Ynet.

“This summer Eilat’s airport will start to serve its purpose as an international airport. After a short break due to COVID, flights abroad will be renewed,” said an Eilat Municipality official, according to the report.

Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri said, “I believe more airlines will follow after Arkia, like El Al and Israir. International flights from Eilat are big news, for Eilat and Israel.”

Source: https://www.jns.org/

Costa Rica Unlocks Intimacy Wellness With ESCAPE® To Tabacón

Research shows 72% of couples believe travel inspires romance and 40% say intimacy is permanently better after travel.

To help facilitate reconnection, Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in Costa Rica partnered with Harvard Psychologist Dr. Natalie Dattilo to launch the ESCAPE® to Tabacón campaign, a therapist-approved vacation that facilitates a mind-body holistic experience for couples to renew their love.

The ESCAPE® travel package for two uses science-based psychology and the natural environment to guide couples to engage their bodies and minds to kindle romantic passion. The 5-day package includes unique sensory, emotional, and physical experiences proven to increase relaxation, ease mental distress, and improve connection through play and gratitude.

Connect with your partner through each element of the ESCAPE® to Tabacón package:

EXERCISE: Adventure tours allow couples to get out of their comfort zones and move their bodies in new and creative ways, which can lead to strengthened bonds. Choose from horseback riding, waterfall hike, canopy adventure or white-water rafting.

SLEEP: Sleep challenges can impact the brain’s ability to consolidate and remember positive experiences, leading to increased distress for couples. Nightly turndown service includes pillow spray and essential oils to promote healthy sleep.

CONNECT: One private yoga experience & an original Tabacón binaural beats soundtrack allows couples to slow down and meditate on their time together.

APPRECIATE: Tabacón’s plant a tree program allows couples to appreciate their surroundings and be grateful for what they’ve grown together.

PLAY: Play is foundational for any romantic relationship; novelty activates our reward system and releases mood-enhancing endorphins that also spark creativity, improving union and connection. Cook and create in a Pura Vida culinary class

Splash and soak in unlimited access to Tabacón’s award-winning natural hot springs

Explore with a complimentary access to Shangri-La Gardens (adults only!)

EXHALE: At Tabacón’s world-renown spa, couples can relax with an Emotional Massage followed by relaxing balneotherapy for two. The benefits of bathing together include more harmonious communication, sensuality, and calm.

Pricing starts at $2,195 based on double occupancy.

For more information, please visit: https://www.tabacon.com/

State Of Yucatan Continues Tourism Reactivation Plan With New Offerings

MERIDA, Yucatan, Mexico — Following the successful completion of its “365 Days of Yucatan” campaign, the state of Yucatan has announced further work as part of its reactivation plan. The 365 Days of Yucatan effort took place in 2021 and 2022, during which time 365 tourism products — many developed specifically as part of the campaign — were promoted to local, national and international visitors, and helped return visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels.

In the past two months, the state’s Ministry of Tourism (SEFOTUR) has announced a number of the newest additions to Yucatan’s tourism offerings, including the Sendero Jurasico. Situated close to Chicxulub — the impact crater of a large asteroid that hit Earth with tremendous force 66 million years ago. The park features replicas of many of these now-extinct animals. The Yucatan has also expanded its share of the destination weddings market with its variety of indoor and outdoor venues and the start of legal same-sex marriages and has developed adrenaline-fueled, outdoors activity routes across its many regions.

This month, SEFOTUR also launched its newest campaign, “365 Flavors of Yucatan.” Promoted under the hashtag #YucatanIsFlavor, the campaign aims to increase awareness of the state's culinary offerings, rich cultural history and modern gastronomy as an important part of its tourism offer. It positions Yucatan as one of Mexico's foodie destinations in an effort to expand tourism to all regions of the state and develop new products.

The state of Yucatan will be on-site in San Diego and Los Angles from July 11th to the 22nd promoting their culinary campaign as well as participating in Mexico's General Consulate in San Diego's "Bridge to Mexico" campaign which will feature the state of Yucatan in a number of activities, including the opening of "House of Mexico" in the Hall of Nations at Balboa Park, a booth on Little Italy's Farmers Market and very special participation at this year's Comic-Con 2022 with the presence of local animated celebrity Donia Way and the state's flamingos.

Back in the state of Yucatan, one area of great change is the Yucatan Riviera, which has seen an increase in boutique hotels, Airbnb rentals, beach clubs and event spaces. One of the most promoted projects is the expansion of the Puerto Progreso cruise port; cargo ships carrying up to 100,000 tons of freight and passenger ships with up to 8,000 passengers will be able to call at the port. There is also a letter of intent with Fincantieri to build the largest shipyard in all of the Americas through an investment of more than $400 million.

Yucatan has been proactively courting the cruise industry since its attendances at the 2018 iteration of the annual Florida and Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference with a delegation of state decision-makers, including Vila Dosal and Fridman.

From January to April of this year, 48 cruise ships arrived in Yucatan, transporting a total of 142,228 passengers. More than 100 cruises are scheduled to call at Progreso this year, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Enchantment of the Seas, which arrived on June 10 from Galveston, Texas, with 2,284 passengers and a crew of 861 people Carnival Ecstasy which called on the port on July 7th with 3,267 people on board.

Despite a welcome increase in tourism to the beach areas of the Yucatan Riviera, government initiatives and education efforts have helped not only maintain but enhance the health of the area’s environment. This month, it was announced that the seven main Yucatecan beaches have reduced their solid waste contamination by up to 94% and had received platinum certification for the second year in a row by the Mexican Institute for Standardization and Certification. This includes the beaches of Río Lagartos, Celestún, Telchac, Sisal, Cancunito, San Felipe and El Cuyo.

Airlift is also increasing to Merida International Airport (MID). This month, it was announced that a new daily direct flight from Mexico City’s Toluca Airport will start on Sept. 9 with Viva Aerobus. With this new route, Yucatan increases the number of available direct national air routes to nine. Air route recovery now exceeds 100% of the supply of seats that had been available on domestic routes prior to the pandemic. International routes have recovered part of pre-pandemic frequencies, with direct and non-stop flights to Merida from Dallas, Houston, Miami, Oakland and Tijuana/San Diego.

In addition, new air routes connecting the Guatemalan city of Flores operated by TAG Airlines expands access across the Maya World, and the reactivation of the flight from León Guanajuato to Mérida, operated by Volaris, connects two of the most historically rich states on Mexico’s map.

On June 13, the U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Mexico, pointing out that there is no restriction on the state of Yucatan. “Exercise normal precautions,” the advisory reads. “There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Yucatan state.”

For more inforation, please visit: https://yucatan.travel/en/

Europe Broils In Heat Wave That Fuels Fires In France, Spain

LA TESTE-DE-BUCH, France (AP) — A heat wave broiling Europe spilled northward Monday to Britain, where authorities warned of possible record temperatures, and fueled ferocious wildfires in France, which scrambled water-bombing planes and hundreds of firefighters to battle flames spreading through tinder-dry forests.

In Spain, two people were killed in blazes that the country’s prime minister linked to global warming, saying: “Climate change kills.”

In both France and Spain, fierce heat fueled the fires — part of a wall of high temperatures moving across Europe, touching even places like Britain, where officials have issued the first-ever extreme heat warning. The country’s weather service forecast that the record high of 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.7 degrees Fahrenheit), set in 2019, could be shattered.

“Forty-one isn’t off the cards,” said Met Office CEO Penelope Endersby. “We’ve even got some 43s in the model, but we’re hoping it won’t be as high as that.”

French forecasters also warned of possible record temperatures as swirling hot winds complicated firefighting efforts in the country’s southwest.

Authorities there started evacuating more towns, moving out another 3,500 people at risk of finding themselves in the path of the raging flames that have already seared 140 square kilometers (54 square miles) of pine forests and other vegetation. That will take the number who have been forced out of their homes in the Gironde region to around 20,000 since the wildfires began July 12.

The regional fire service chief, Marc Vermeulen, described the burning forests as “a powder keg” and said tree trunks were shattering as flames consumed them, sending burning embers into the air and further spreading the blazes.

“The fire is literally exploding,” he said. “We’re facing extreme and exceptional circumstances.”

Three additional planes were sent to join six others already fighting the fires, scooping up seawater into their tanks and making repeated runs through dense clouds of smoke, the Interior Ministry said Sunday night.

More than 200 reinforcements headed to join the 1,500-strong force of firefighters battling night and day to contain the blazes in the Gironde, where flames neared prized vineyards and the Arcachon maritime basin famed for its oysters and beaches.

Spain, meanwhile, reported a second fatality in two days as it battled its own blazes. The body of a 69-year-old sheep farmer was found Monday in the same hilly area where a 62-year-old firefighter died a day earlier when he was trapped by flames in the northwestern Zamora province. More than 30 forest fires around Spain have forced the evacuation of thousands of people and blackened 220 square kilometers (85 square miles) of forest and scrub.

Heat waves and drought tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight. Scientists say climate change will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.

“Climate change kills,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Monday during a visit to the Extremadura region, where firefighters tackled three major blazes. “It kills people, it kills our ecosystems and biodiversity.”

Teresa Ribera, Spain’s minister for ecological transition, described her country as “literally under fire” as she attended talks on climate change in Berlin.

She warned of “terrifying prospects still for the days to come” — after more than 10 days of temperatures over 40 C (104 F), cooling only moderately at night.

According to Spain’s Carlos III Institute, which records daily temperature-related fatalities, 237 deaths were attributed to high temperatures from July 10 to 14. That was compared to 25 heat-related deaths the previous week.

The heat wave in Spain is forecast to ease on Tuesday, but the respite will be brief as temperatures rise again on Wednesday, especially in the dry western Extremadura region.

In Portugal, much cooler weather Monday helped fire crews make progress against blazes. More than 600 firefighters attended four major fires in northern Portugal.

UK Gets Ready For Travel Disruptions As Temps May Hit 104 F

The British government held an emergency response meeting Saturday to plan for record high temperatures next week after weather authorities issued their first-ever “red” warning for extreme heat.

The alert covers large parts of England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, the U.K. Met Office, the country’s weather service, said Friday.

The British heat record is 38.7C (101.7F), set in 2019.

After chairing the meeting, Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse warned that transport services will be significantly affected.

“The heat will affect rails, for example, so the trains have to run slower. There may be fewer services,″ he told the BBC. “People need to be on their guard for disruption. If they don’t have to travel, this may be a moment to work from home.”

Rail passengers and users of the London Underground subway system were being advised not to travel on Monday and Tuesday unless it’s absolutely necessary. With children and older people considered particularly vulnerable to high temperatures, schools and nursing homes have been urged to take steps to protect students and older residents. Most schools in England are still in session until the end of next week.

The alert comes as scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood of exceptional heat waves in Britain, a country unaccustomed to such temperatures. Few homes, apartments, schools or small businesses in the country have air conditioning.

Britain usually has moderate summer temperatures. Across the U.K., average July temperatures range from a daily high of 21 C (70 F) to a low of 12 C (53 F).

London Mayor Sadiq Khan met with representatives of the National Health Service, police, fire and other emergency services on Friday to review plans to deal with the heat emergency.

One doctor warned that the upcoming heat wave and a surge in COVID-19 infections were causing a nightmare for health workers.

“A lot of hospital buildings are very old, particularly in London, and many don’t have air conditioning and windows that don’t open – so they are extremely hot,” said Dr. Claire Bronze, 38, an emergency room consultant in London. “Some staff still have to wear PPE – so plastic gowns, masks, gloves – on top of their normal uniform which, as you can imagine, means people are quickly going to get very hot and dehydrated.”

By DANICA KIRKA

Europe Is Now A Budget-Friendly Travel Option For U.S. Travelers

Flying to Europe this year might sound as absurd as opting for premium gasoline. With prices this high, is it really the right time to splurge?

“As a result of labor shortages and all these things going on, travel is more expensive than it’s been in a while,“ says travel journalist Oneika Raymond. “Flights are really expensive. Accommodation is really expensive. And revenge travel is a thing.”

Although travel prices continue to soar overall due to constrained supply and mounting demand, pockets of affordability remain.

Europe represents one of these pockets, where weakening currency exchange rates against the dollar and tepid demand have left prices relatively unscathed. In fact, flights within the U.S. have become so expensive this year that some international destinations, including many in Europe, offer a relative bargain.

“If you are willing to pay to fly domestically, check out international destinations,” suggests Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, a travel booking app. “Because there is a good chance that there is a flight to somewhere else in the world for about the same price.”

AIRFARE IS LESS INFLATED IN EUROPE

Domestic airfare was 30% higher at the end of May 2022 compared with May 2019, according to data from Hopper.

“Airfare this summer within the U.S. will cost $600 to $800,” says Berg. “At those prices you can get to Reykjavik, Iceland, or Dublin, Ireland.”

Indeed, flights from the U.S. to Europe were only up 13% at the end of May 2022 compared with the same period in 2019, according to Hopper . That trend squares with tourist demand, which remains below pre-pandemic levels: About 19% fewer U.S. travelers left for Europe in May 2022 compared with May 2019, before the pandemic, according to data from the International Trade Administration.

Put simply, prices and demand for flights to Europe are increasing, but not as quickly as they are elsewhere.

“Given how high domestic airfare is, you can get more bang for your buck with longer-haul destinations,” explains Berg.

THE DOLLAR IS STRONG

Although 2022 may go down as a bear market for everything from stocks to cryptocurrency, the U.S. dollar has gained ground on many foreign currencies. The dollar was 15% stronger against the euro in May 2022 compared with May 2021, according to data from the Federal Reserve.

“Today what we’re seeing is that a dollar can buy more euros than it has been able to essentially since the euro launched,” says Berg.

This means that anything purchased while traveling in countries that use the euro will be at a 15% discount, if currency exchange rates remain stable. U.S. travelers will enjoy this benefit on everything from food and lodging to events and transportation.

Of course, global inflationary pressures continue to drive up prices everywhere, including Europe. Annual consumer prices in Germany were up 7.9% in May, according to the Financial Times, just shy of the 8.6% increase in the U.S. Yet, while prices may remain elevated nearly everywhere, the relative strength of the dollar can help soften the blow.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CAN HELP YOU SAVE

Inflation has hit no aspect of travel more directly and dramatically than the cost of renting and operating a vehicle. Rental cars prices were up a budget-busting 69% in May 2022 compared with May 2019, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. And everybody knows how high gasoline prices have jumped.

These factors should make this the summer of public transportation for money-conscious travelers. Yet the U.S. offers few tourist destinations that can be explored by train.

Not so in Europe, where most popular cities offer safe, affordable and dependable transit. Cities such as Amsterdam, London and Copenhagen can be explored for only a few euros, which is equivalent to only a few U.S. dollars with favorable exchange rates.

Visiting national parks in the U.S. made sense in 2020 and 2021 for a host of reasons. But saving money in 2022 means skipping cars outright when possible.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH?

We are in strange times indeed when traveling to Europe represents an off-the-beaten-path, budget-friendly choice. Yet the facts speak for themselves. Airfare to Europe is rising less quickly than domestic tickets, and fewer travelers are visiting the continent. The dollar is strong, and the U.S. has dropped its testing requirement for arriving travelers, which made leaving the country a pain.

All this has combined to make Europe a good choice for travelers in an upside-down year. Riding the rails in Zurich could prove cheaper than renting a car in Cleveland.

By SAM KEMMIS of NerdWallet

US Has Clinched Deal With Saudis For Normalization With Israel, Will Allow Israeli Airlines To Fly Over Arab Kingdom As Well As Direct Flights For Muslim Pilgrims

US President Joe Biden, during his visit to Jeddah this weekend, will announce the successful brokering of an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Egypt that will see Riyadh take steps toward normalization with Israel, a Middle East diplomat confirmed to The Times of Israel Thursday.

The normalization measures will include Saudi Arabia opening its airspace to Israeli flights to the Far East in addition to rolling out direct flights between Israel and Saudi Arabia for Muslim pilgrims, the Middle East diplomat said, confirming reporting in the Axios news site.

The US has been seeking to finalize the transfer of the Tiran and Sanafir Red Sea islands from Cairo to Riyadh in time for Biden’s visit to Jeddah, where he will participate in the GCC+3 summit and hold a bilateral meeting with Saudi officials.

Israel handed over control of the two islands to Egypt as part of their 1979 peace agreement, but the sides agreed to demilitarize the islands and to allow the presence of a multinational observer force to remain. Israel had been seeking similar assurances from Saudi Arabia in order to sign off on the deal, but Riyadh has been hesitant to put the commitment in writing, the diplomat said last week.

Axios reported Thursday that Israel had now given its official agreement to the transfer of the islands.

The deal is legally complex because the countries do not maintain official ties and therefore are working through conduits. Riyadh has also been hesitant to put details of the agreement in writing, much to Israel’s discomfort, a diplomat previously said.

While the observer force will be transferred to another location, Saudi Arabia has committed to ensuring Israel’s freedom of transport around the islands, the diplomat said.

At a press conference with Prime Minister Yair Lapid earlier Thursday, Biden said he was “optimistic” about the prospects of being able to announce Saudi overflights when he arrives in Jeddah Friday.

In an opinion article ahead of the trip, Biden said the direct travel was a “small symbol” of the warming ties between Israel and the Arab world and “steps toward normalization.”

This photo taken on January 14, 2014, through the window of an airplane, shows the Red Sea’s Tiran (foreground) and the Sanafir (background) islands in the Strait of Tiran between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia. (Stringer/AFP)

Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have official diplomatic relations, but covert ties have warmed in recent years as Riyadh and its de facto ruler, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have reportedly come to see Israel as a strategic partner in the battle against Iranian influence in the region.

The kingdom declined to sign onto the Washington-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020 as the US and Israel had hoped, but Riyadh is believed to have given the go-ahead to Bahrain, where it retains decisive influence, to join the normalization agreement with Israel alongside the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

Saudi Arabia did begin allowing Israeli airlines to fly over its territory in a special air corridor for flights to and from the UAE and Bahrain, after the accords were signed. But Israel has yet to receive such access for flights to and from India, Thailand and China, for example.

Should Riyadh announce its approval for use of its airspace, travel to and from those countries will take significantly less time.

Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/

Stuttgart Sheds Remnants Of Pandemic, Fall Festivals Dominate SouthWest Germany’s Capital City

Starting this August, Stuttgart will shed the remnants of the pandemic as the city embraces its beloved festival season. This fall, no less than three enormous festivals will welcome visitors from near and far.

Stuttgart’s annual wine village with hundreds of wines made by local and regional growers will be located under bountiful arbors in the the city center on the Schiller- and Marktplatz from August 17 to September 4. Less than one month afterward, the 175th Stuttgart Beer Festival (September 23 to October 9) will get underway on the Cannstatter Wasen fairground along with the Agricultural Show. Then the Historical Festival (September 24 to October 3), that takes place every four years commemorating the founding of the Stuttgart Beer Festival, will be in full swing on the Palace Square in the city center.

Wine is an important characteristic of Stuttgart’s city life as it is made and sold in the vineyards all around the city. Light fruity reds, such as Trollinger, Lemberger and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and dry whites, including Riesling, Kerner, Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Sauvignon Blanc are most prevalent. Stuttgart's vineyards stretch right into the heart of the city, making the city the only German metropolis with its own municipal wine estate. Wine has been grown here ever since Roman times, and owes its excellent quality to the first-class soil, the favourable climate and the accumulated expertise. Throughout the year, the wine hills of the Württemberg wine region offer endless opportunities for hiking, biking, tastings and organized tours on foot, in a vintage bus or on a Segway. https://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/en/sights/vineyards-to-the-city-center

The annual wine festival at the end of August is a special time as the whole city comes together to celebrate their city and viniculture. Award winning wines from all over SouthWest Germany, including new wines produced by third and fourth generation wine growers, are presented alongside traditional favorites in beautiful bowers in the city center in the city center. Visitors can mingle with locals and enjoy tasting 500 different types of wines from the region. Cozy wine booths with around 30 hosts serve wines, accompanied by Swabian specialities, such as Käsespätzle (cheesy noodles), Maultaschen (filled pasta), Schupfnudeln (potato noodles) with Sauerkraut, and sweet treats. https://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/en/e-46th-stuttgart-wine-village-2022#2022-08-17

The annual beer festival, or the Stuttgart Beer Festival, is second only to Oktoberfest in terms of size and popularity. Originally a harvest festival, the “Cannstatt Agricultural Festival” has long since developed into a popular public celebration. Seven beer tents, the historic wine tent and the Alpine Village will open their doors on September 23 to the public and the fairground rides will get underway. Approximately 320 showmen, hosts and stallholders, along with a double-looping roller coaster, autoscooters, modern attractions or old favorites will be at the Wasen. In the festival tents hearty dishes such as grilled knuckle of pork, fried steak along with the Maultaschen are served to go with the mugs of beer. Each year the festival opens with a grand procession with magnificently decorated brewery drays drawn by four or six horses, and with groups from all over the region dressed in traditional costumes. https://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/en/e-stuttgart-beer-festival-2022#2022-09-23

Every four years, parallel to the Stuttgart Beer Festival, Southwest Germany's largest trade exhibition for the agriculture, forestry and food sectors with nearly 700 exhibitors is also held at the Wasen fairground. This year the focus will be on livestock, technology, nature and nutrition under the motto "Landwirtschaft erLEBEN!" (the Agriculture Experience).

The Historical Folk Festival, which takes place every four years, celebrates the founding of the beer festival. It founded over 200 years ago by King Wilhelm I of Württemberg and his wife, Queen Katharina to support the country's agriculture, which had suffered greatly in the aftermath of the eruption of the Indonesian volcano Tambora and the Napoleonic Wars. It is a very family friendly event right in the heart of Stuttgart on the Palace Square with old-fashioned bands and costumes, entertainment, including showmen such as jugglers, artiste, illusionists and a flea circus. There are also attractive traditional fairground rides, including a nostalgic big wheel and a rollercoaster from the 1930s. The Jubilee Column in the middle of Palace Square will be decorated in the style of the Fruit Column – the emblem of the Beer Festival – with agricultural produce. www.historisches-volksfest.de/en

Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg, known as SouthWest Germany. It is easily accessible from all major European cities by train and plane and hotels are plentiful. A new direct flight from Atlanta to Stuttgart also will be starting this October with Delta Airlines.

Hawaii National Park Gets Land Where Ancient Villages Stood

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island was given new land on Tuesday in a deal that will protect and manage a pristine white sand beach and ocean bay area that is home to endangered and endemic species and to rare, culturally significant Native Hawaiian artifacts.

Endangered Hawaiian hawksbill sea turtle rests on the beach of Pohue Bay on Hawaii's Big Island.

Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit land preservation group, transferred its ownership of Pohue Bay and surrounding land to the National Park Service.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has the world’s largest and most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Most of the coastline where the bay is located is made of ancient lava flows, black rock and sea cliffs that dart out into the ocean.

Pohue Bay, a rare and idyllic oasis in an otherwise rugged landscape, is home to endangered hawksbill sea turtles, green sea turtles, endangered Hawaiian monk seals and other species found only in Hawaii. The area houses anchialine ponds — landlocked pools with a mix of fresh and salt water — where rare Hawaiian red shrimp called ʻōpaeʻula live.

The area is also culturally significant because it has remains of ancient Hawaiian villages, petroglyphs, burial sites and the largest known abrader tool quarry in the state, according to the Trust for Public Lands. Abraders are ancient tools used for sanding, smoothing and grinding.

Park officials hope to eventually open the area up to the public, but the 26 square miles (67 square kilometers) of land will remain closed to visitors as national park staff consult with local experts and residents to better understand the various cultural sites.
The addition brings the total park size to 554 square miles (1,425 square kilometers), almost as large as the entire island of Oahu.

While the park has recently acquired a few small parcels of land in the same area, the donation is the park’s largest addition since 2003, when about 156 square miles (404 square kilometers) of land was incorporated.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh in a statement called the Pohue Bay area “an incredibly precious and culturally significant landscape that needs to be protected.”

She added: “The park is working to develop an interim operating plan for Pohue that explores opportunities for public use compatible with resource protection.”

Trust for Public Land acquired the privately owned land on Tuesday and gave it to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park the same day.

The parcel stretching from the southwest coast of Hawaii Island up to the national park was purchased for $9.4 million with funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and a donation from the Wyss Foundation. The land had previously been the target of several resort proposals, Trust for Public Land said.

“We are grateful the National Park Service will steward the area, ensuring the history, culture and natural beauty of this place are protected for future generations,” Trust for Public Land Associate Vice President Lea Hong, who leads the Hawaii division for the organization, said in a statement.

Hong emphasized the role locals have played in preserving the land, fighting off pressure from developers and others to keep the area natural.

“It’s really a testament to decades of community concern and love for that area,” Hong said. “It’s a testament to the community’s dedication to conserving the coastline that this project will happen.”

By CALEB JONES

The Euro And The US Dollar Are At Parity For The First Time In 20 Years

New York (CNN Business)For the first time in 20 years, the exchange rate between the euro (EUU) and the US dollar has reached parity -- meaning the two currencies are worth the same.

The euro hit $1 on Tuesday, down about 12% since the start of the year. Fears of recession on the continent abound, stoked by high inflation and energy supply uncertainty caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The European Union, which received roughly 40% of its gas through Russian pipelines before the war, is attempting to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas. At the same, Russia has throttled back gas supplies to some EU countries and recently cut the flow in the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany by 60%.

Now that critical piece of gas import infrastructure in Europe, has been shut down for scheduled maintenance due to last 10 days. German officials fear that it may not be turned on again.

The energy crisis comes alongside an economic slowdown, which has cast doubts over whether the European Central Bank can adequately tighten policy to bring down inflation. The ECB announced that it will hike interest rates this month for the first time since 2011, as the eurozone inflation rate sits at 8.6%.

But some say the ECB is far behind the curve, and that a hard landing is all but inevitable. Germany recorded its first trade deficit in goods since 1991 last week as fuel prices and general supply chain chaos significantly increased the price of imports.

"Given the nature of Germany's exports which are commodity-price sensitive, it remains hard to imagine that the trade balance could improve significantly from here in the next few months given the expected slowdown in the eurozone economy," Saxo Bank foreign exchange strategists wrote in a recent note.

A series of aggressive interest rate hikes by central banks, including the Fed, coupled with slowing economic growth will keep pressure on the euro while sending investors toward the US dollar as a safe haven, say analysts.
The US Federal Reserve is well ahead of Europe on tightening, having hiked interest rates by 75 basis points while indicating that more rate increases will come this month.

This safe haven retreat into the US dollar could become even more extreme if Europe and the US enters a recession, warned Deutsche Global Head of FX Research George Saravelos in a note last week. A situation where the euro is trading below the US dollar at a range of $0.95 to $0.97 could "well be reached," wrote Saravelos, "if both Europe and the US find themselves slip-sliding in to a (deeper) recession in Q3 while the Fed is still hiking rates."

That's good news for Americans with plans to visit Europe this summer but could spell bad news for economic global stability.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/

Spain’s Running Of The Bulls: 3 People Gored At San Fermín

PAMPLONA, Spain (AP) — A tense fifth bull run at Pamplona’s San Fermín Festival on Monday left three people gored, including one American, and three others with bruises, the Navarra regional government said.

It was the first run with gorings in the festival so far this year. There are three more daily runs before the festival ends Thursday.

The regional government said a 25-year-old runner from Sunrise, Florida, was gored in the calf in the bullring. The other two gored were Spaniards, one in the ring and one on the street. None was in serious condition.

Earlier festival organizers had said erroneously that the foreigner gored in the ring was Australian.

Three other runners, all Spaniards, were treated for injuries sustained in falls during the run.

Television images showed one bull repeatedly tossing and butting one runner against the wooden barriers on the edge of the ring and then goring another in the back of the leg.

The spectacle lasted just over three minutes as hundreds of runners, mostly men, ran frantically ahead and alongside six fighting bulls as they charged through the cobblestone streets of this northern city. The run finishes at Pamplona’s bullring, where later in the day the bulls are killed by professional bullfighters.

Tens of thousands of visitors come to the Pamplona festival, which was featured in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises.” The adrenaline rush of the morning bull run is followed by partying throughout the day and night.

Eight people were gored in 2019, the last festival before a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixteen people have died in Pamplona’s bull runs since 1910, with the last death in 2009.