France’s air traffic control strikes ground flights across Europe
Paris, France/London, UK Reuters Delays and flight cancellations were set to impact swathes of Europe on Thursday, after authorities failed to reach a deal with some French air traffic control workers to avert a strike. France’s DGAC civil aviation authority said on Wednesday it had asked airlines to cancel 75 per cent of Thursday’s flights […]
Dubai faces massive clean up after deluge swamps glitzy desert city
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Reuters Dubai, a city in the desert proud of its modern gloss, faced the towering task on Thursday of clearing its waterclogged roads and drying out flooded homes two days after a record storm saw a year’s rain fall in a day. Dubai International Airport, a major travel hub, struggled to […]
Mount Etna eruption closes Sicily’s troubled Catania airport
Catania, Sicily Reuters Flights serving the eastern Sicilian city of Catania were halted on Monday after an eruption from nearby Mount Etna, local authorities said, bringing fresh travel woe to the crisis-plagued Italian airport. The 3,330 metre high volcano burst into action overnight, firing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island. The lava flow […]
Tears, prayers and hopes as flights to Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray resume
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Reuters Kahssay Hailu sobbed, smiled and said prayers as she stood outside Addis Ababa airport, preparing to board a plane home to Ethiopia’s war-torn region of Tigray. She travelled to Addis Ababa in 2020 from the Tigray capital Mekelle to help her daughter prepare for a school exam. Weeks after her arrival, […]
Elon Musk’s Twitter suspension of journalists draws global backlash
Dallas, Texas, USReuters Twitter’s unprecedented suspension of at least five journalists over claims they revealed the real-time location of owner Elon Musk drew swift backlash from government officials, advocacy groups and journalism organisations across the globe on Friday. Officials from France, Germany, the UK and the European Union condemned the suspensions, with some saying the […]
Omicron-related disruptions cause over 4,000 flight cancellations to kick off 2022
Reuters More than 4,000 flights were cancelled around the world on Sunday, more than half of them US flights, adding to the toll of holiday week travel disruptions due to adverse weather and the surge in coronavirus cases caused by the Omicron variant. The flights cancelled by 8pm GMT on Sunday included over 2,400 entering, […]
Postcards: Air Chernobyl? Tourists get chance to fly over nuclear disaster zone
As Ukraine marks the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, SERGIY KARAZY and MARGARYTA CHORNOKONDRATENKO, of Reuters, report a new venture to provide tourists with a birds-eye view of the disaster site…
Asia-Pacific countries begin to ease pandemic-related travel bans, but hurdles remain
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Asia-Pacific countries including Singapore, Australia and Japan are gradually easing some international travel restrictions as coronavirus cases slow, in hopes of helping to revive their economies. International travel in Asia has collapsed during the pandemic due to border closures, with passenger numbers down 97 per cent in August, according to the Association of […]
China’s Hubei province, centre of virus outbreak, confirms 25 new deaths
Beijing, ChinaReuters The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in China rose to 131 as health authorities at the epicentre of the epidemic reported another 840 confirmed cases, even as Beijing reiterated its confidence in containing the disease. Fears of the spreading virus led airlines to reduce flights to China and global companies to restrict […]
STRANGESIGHTS: THE POPE, SAINTS AND THE NFL; CARRY A BOOK AND HAVE A FREE RIDE; AND, A 12 HOUR PRESS CONFERENCE
DAVID ADAMS writes about the odder side of life…