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Courtesy Melissa Vargas

‘The best decision I ever made’: Why this New Yorker ditched the United States for ‘super safe’ Germany

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Ivan, 23, of Russia waits in a queue to have his passport checked at the Vaalimaa border check point in Virolahti, Finland, on September 25, 2022. According to the Border Guard as many as 20 000 passengers may come to Finland over the weekend. Three border stations in Southeastern Finland, Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa and Imatra, have seen more arrivals than usual as young men in particular flee military conscription. (Photo by Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)

Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/AFP/Getty Images

Russians are still traveling around Europe despite sanctions. Not everyone’s happy about it

A pilgrim carries a cross near St Peter's square, after the death of Pope Francis was announced by the Vatican, as seen from Rome, Italy, April 21, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

How to visit Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral

Sophie Crowther

Courtesy Sophie Crowther

The truth about the ‘chalet girls’ who look after the needs of Europe’s wealthy skiers

This huge underwater sinkhole is positioned off the coast of Belize.

The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

24 of the world’s most unusual landscapes

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mike King/Shutterstock (1310548a)
An Antonov 74 on the runway at Longyearbyen airport, Svalbard
North Pole marathon 2011 - 9 Apr 2011
As if running a marathon wasn't difficult enough 27 hardy souls recently braved sub zero temperatures and polar bears to run one at the North Pole. One of the world's toughest races, the North Pole Marathon sees competitors from across the world race 26.2 mile (42.2km) across the ice and snow in temperatures of -32C. The endurance feat, which is known as the world's coolest marathon, is organised by Irishman Richard Donovan, who won the first ever South Pole Marathon in Antarctica in 2002. Before launching the North Pole contest he ran a solo marathon there himself to see if it could be done - becoming the first person to complete marathons at both poles. To complete the full distance competitors in the race run around a 5km circuit, pounding across six to 12 feet of ice covering the Arctic Ocean. Due to this, though they don't feel it, the ground is constantly moving beneath their feet with the ocean current. The 2011 marathon started at 10pm with competitors running through the Pole's 24-hr daylight.

Mike King/Shutterstock

It’s the world’s northernmost airport. And its runway is melting

Airlift Technology Pvt. Ltd.

Drones can deliver supplies on Mount Everest this year, and it may change climbing forever

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (14723105a)
The Korean company Asiana Airlines expands its operations between Seoul and Barcelona with the arrival at El Prat airport of the Airbus A380 to replace the A350. In the photo, the arrival of an Airbus A380-841 in Barcelona, Spain, on September 14, 2024.
Asiana Airlines flies to Barcelona with the Airbus A380, Spain - 14 Sep 2024

Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Double-decker passenger planes are a dying breed. These airlines are keeping them alive

PRODUCTION - 07 October 2023, Berlin: A DJane spins at the club Re:mise. Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa (Photo by Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Fabian Sommer/picture alliance/dpa/Getty Images

It was the hedonistic party capital of Europe. Now Gen-Z wants a different kind of fun

The Motel Inn, formerly the Milestone Mo-Tel, closed in 1991 and now sits abandoned.

Ian Dagnall/Alamy

The world’s first motel opened 100 years ago, but now only ruins remain

Morgana O'Reilly, Arnas Fedaravičius, Christian Friedel, Dom Hetrakul, Lalisa Manobal.

Fabio Lovino/HBO

Want to create your own ‘White Lotus’ holiday in Thailand? These are the locations featured on season 3 of the hit show

GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Grand Canyon Park Services Ranger Jill Staurowsky gives a tour to visitors on February 22, 2025 in Grand Canyon, Arizona. The Trump administration is planning to restore jobs for dozens of National Park Service employees after laying off approximately 1,000 probationary employees amid a wave of federal work force cuts. In addition, the Trump administration has pledged to restore 50 jobs along with the hiring of an additional 3,000 seasonal workers. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

National parks brace for ‘a hold-your-breath year’ as the season heats up

Keith Richardson

He moved from California to rural Italy because he ‘didn’t want to be anywhere near a McDonald’s or Starbucks’

Aerial view of a construction site of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge on January 17, 2025 in Zhenfeng County, Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province of China.

Qin Gang/VCG/Getty Images

The world’s tallest bridge will open in China this summer

Chris Willson, seen with his partner Jin Li.

Christopher Willson

He spent $1M restoring a cruise ship he bought on Craigslist. Now he’s mourning its ‘horrible death’

NEWS

In this still from Port Authority of New York and New Jersey video obtained by CNN, Svetlana Dali gets patted down after going through a security checkpoint.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Videos show woman bypassing part of TSA checkpoint and gate agents to stow away on Delta Air Lines plane

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 14: A Frontier Airlines plane prepare to take off from Harry Reid International Airport as Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines planes taxi on October 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Holiday airfare prices are expected to be the most expensive in the last 5 years with Thanksgiving ticket prices up 25 percent from last year with the average round trip ticket price of $281. Christmas travel costs are up 55 percent from last year with round trip ticket prices averaging $435. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Too often helicopters got dangerously close to passenger planes in Las Vegas, FAA says

Flames and smoke coming from the right side of a Delta Air Lines aircraft on Monday morning. Passengers evacuated down emergency slides on the tarmac of Orlando International Airport.

Courtesy Dylan Wallace

Passengers evacuate on Orlando tarmac after engine fire

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: An Asiana Airlines Airbus A380 arrives at Los Angeles International Airport from Seoul on March 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Kevin Carter/Getty Images/File

Key safety notification system for pilots to be replaced years ahead of schedule

Oita, a scenic region known for its natural hot springs on the Japanese island of Kyushu, has recently renamed its air hub Oita Hello Kitty Airport to lure fans and tourists.

Japanese airport given full Hello Kitty rebrand for World Expo 2025

An aerial view of a strip of land between the Pacific Ocean (R) and lagoon on November 25, 2019 in Funafuti, Tuvalu.

Mario Tama/Getty Images/File

This remote Pacific island nation just got its first ATMs

Passengers clapped and cheered on Tuesday after Frontier Airlines Flight 3506 made a terrifying landing at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. The FAA said in a statement that the Airbus A321 had to perform a go-around after it initially made a hard landing. The plane made another approach and landed safely at 10:20 p.m.

Courtesy Jeffrey Cerda

FAA and NTSB investigating after Frontier Airlines’ hard landing in Puerto Rico

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Courtesy Wyatt McCurry

United Airlines plane engine shoots out fire after hitting an animal on takeoff

A view of Mount Paektu from the North Korean side of the mountain, June 2017.

Justin Robertson/CNN

North Korea’s sacred Mount Paektu designated as UNESCO Global Geopark

Food & drink

Mango sticky rice is one of Thailand's most famous desserts. K. Panich has been serving the dish at its Bangkok shophouse since 1932.

Pongpat Patumsuwon

Why mango sticky rice is one of Thailand’s most beloved summer dishes

Homemade american pancakes with fresh blueberry, raspberries and honey. Healthy morning breakfast. rustic style.

The world’s most delicious pancakes

Courtesy The World's 50 Best

‘We are not just one city’: Asia’s 50 best restaurants for 2025 revealed

Courtesy Colm Dalton

The man on a mission to visit every Irish pub in the world

Stay

Four Seasons Koh Samui

‘White Lotus’ is expected to lure more tourists to Thailand. These are the locations featured on season 3 of the hit show

Exterior shot of The Cromwell in Las Vegas, NV taken on the evening of November 15, 2022

Tory Kooyman/Caesar's

This Vegas boutique hotel will soon become The Vanderpump

Jodie Schaefer Photography

Two sisters with no hospitality experience bought a century-old inn. Here’s how it worked out

Mongolia Stills34.jpg

Video This Mongolian startup can help you glamp like a nomad 3:47

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS

Matt and Cristina Chance Encounters (3).jpeg

Matt Reinecke and Cristina Farina

She arranged a date with a guy she met on a plane. When he didn’t show, she unexpectedly met her future husband

She met a man on a rooftop bar on her first night in Paris. Her life changed forever

Alexandra Nelke

She got back in touch with a vacation fling from over 15 years ago. What happened next was unexpected

SURVIVAL GUIDES

Hippo

Papa Bravo/Adobe Stock

‘I was up to my waist down a hippo’s throat.’ He survived, and here’s his advice

ZAO, JAPAN - JANUARY 20: Snow trees are seen at Zao Ski Resort on January 20, 2018 in Yamagata, Japan. The natural creation is called Ôsnow monstersÕ, attract visitors. on January 20, 2018 in Zao, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Matt Roberts/Getty Images

You’re trapped in a blizzard. Do you know what to do next to survive?

A bison looks back as it crosses the road near Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park.

Erik Petersen/The Washington Post/Getty Images

You’ve come across a bison in the wild. It’s looking at you. Do you know what to do next?

flying advice

A flight information display system shows departure times at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed

New World Traveller on board the new Boeing 777-300ER, BAMC, Cardiff, UK, 12 August 2010 (Photo by Nick Morrish/British Airways)

Nick Morrish/British Airways

A flight attendant’s secrets to surviving long-haul flights

Luggages are seen at the Barajas Airport in Madrid on July 1, 2022. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images

What to do if your luggage is delayed, lost, stolen or damaged

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Engi Caribe/Adobe Stock

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