by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | money, personal finance, saving money, Travel, travel planning and tips
Several significant money-saving benefits for travelers are being offered by banks, but you might be overlooking these while spending freely!
Various financial institutions nationwide now provide benefits such as discounted travel insurance bundled within package deals along with hotel cash-back offers just for choosing their banking services.
Here are the British bank accounts providing the top travel perks available today…
CASHBACK ACCOUNTS
NATWEST
Using the NatWest Travel Rewards credit card, account holders have the opportunity to earn one percent cashback on all expenditures including flights, train trips, car rentals, ferry rides, bus fares, hotel stays, bookings through travel agencies, cruise vacations, and campsite accommodations.
Customers have the opportunity to earn rewards of up to 15 percent, which can subsequently be converted into cash or electronic codes redeemable at chosen retailers such as Booking.com, National Express, and Enterprise.
With this rewards card, there isn’t a cap on the amount of cash back you can accumulate.
Without any yearly charge and no fees for transactions made overseas, this card might offer a simple method to earn benefits on your everyday purchases.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express offers a variety of banking options for customers looking to accumulate miles and rewards as they make purchases.
The Preferred Rewards Gold is an ideal choice for beginners with Amex since it waives the annual fee during the first year. For each pound you spend, you earn one reward point, plus you can receive up to 12,500 bonus points annually depending on how much you spend.
Upon joining, you’ll receive a welcome bonus that has been boosted from 20,000 Membership Reward points to 30,000 points once you’ve spent £3,000 within three months. Don’t miss out—act quickly to grab these additional points!
Additional benefits consist of four complimentary airport lounge passes along with £120 worth of Deliveroo credit.
Nevertheless, the price for this account increases to £195 starting from the second year.
In the meantime, the American Express Platinum Card has an imposing yearly charge of £650; however, this cost might be justified due to the extensive array of benefits and rewards it provides.
With this account, you’ll receive 80,000 Membership Reward points once you’ve spent £10,000 within six months. This promotion is valid until May 27, 2025.
Using this account, you will receive two Priority Pass cards, granting entry into over 1,400 airport lounges, along with top-tier status across four prominent hotel reward programs.
All-inclusive comprehensive travel insurance is provided as well, along with an annual restaurant credit of £400 and a biannual Harvey Nichols credit of £50.
The most widely used Amex card is the British Airways American Express card because it has no annual fee, and you earn one Avios for each £1 spent – along with additional benefits.
companion voucher, allowing you to reserve two seats with British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus for the cost of one, upon spending £15,000 within a calendar year on your card.
A lone traveler can get a 50 percent discount on their ticket as well.
British Airways
It also provides an American Express Premium Plus card through which you can receive 30,000 Avios aviation points once you have spent £6,000 within 90 days.
For each pound spent with British Airways and BA Holidays, you have the opportunity to accumulate three Avios points.
With an annual charge of £300, the British Airways American Express Premium Plus card provides 30,000 Avios points once you accumulate £6,000 in spending over 90 days, along with earning 1.5 Avios points for each £1 spent generally, and triple Avios points for every £1 spent specifically with BA.
In the meantime, devoted patrons of Marriott Hotels might want to consider getting a Marriott Bonvoy American Express card.
By paying an annual fee of £95, you will have the opportunity to receive two Marriott Bonvoy points for each pound spent or accumulate up to six points per pound when staying at any Marriott properties.
Upon signing up, you will receive 20,000 hotel points after spending £3,000 within the first 90 days.
BARCLAYS
The Barclaycard Avios Mastercard offers an excellent method for accumulating Avios as you make purchases – plus, it’s free to use.
Sticking £1,000 into your account within the initial 90 days earns you 5,000 Avios, and thereafter you’ll receive one Avio point for each pound spent.
If you charge £20,000 on your card within a year, you will receive an Avios upgrade voucher that lets you enhance two British Airways flights.
In contrast, for an yearly charge of £240, you can obtain the Barclaycard Avios Mastercard Plus. This card provides 25,000 Avios points once you’ve made purchases totaling £3,000 within 90 days, followed by earning 1.5 points for every £1 spent afterwards.
You just need to spend £10,000 on your credit card within a year to receive the Avios upgrade voucher.
VIRGIN
For travelers choosing Virgin Atlantic over British Airways, the
Virgin Atlantic
The Reward Mastercard is an excellent choice since it comes with no annual fee and provides 3,000 Virgin Points following your initial purchase.
Starting from now, for every pound spent, customers will receive 0.75 Virgin Points or 1.5 points per pound when shopping with Virgin.
If you accumulate £20,000 within a year, you will receive a bonus voucher equivalent to up to 150,000 Virgin Points. These points can then be applied toward purchasing a companion ticket for either a paid or rewards-based flight.
Individuals who agree to pay an annual fee of £160 for the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard will receive 18,000 points following their initial purchase.
Following that, they will receive three points for every £1 spent with Virgin Atlantic and must only accumulate £10,000 in spending within a year to qualify for the aforementioned rewards voucher.
PACKAGED ACCOUNTS
VIRGIN MONEY CLUB M
Bundled packages provide clients with both a banking account and insurance coverage, such as travel insurance, for an additional cost.
The Virgin Money Club M boasts one of the most affordable rates at only £150 annually, providing coverage for the entire family.
At this price point, it provides global family travel insurance for customers up to 74 years old, covering couples along with their four children aged 18 or younger, plus UK and European breakdown assistance exclusively for the account holder.
This option enables numerous global journeys and comes with coverage for winter activities, weddings, and golf.
The household will be protected with coverage of up to £2,000 per individual for their electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops against various mishaps including theft overseas or potential water damage during a seaside vacation.
The benefits are approximately valued at £500 when purchased individually, and there’s no required initial investment. Thus, Virgin Money Club M offers substantial savings.
CO-OP BANK EVERYDAY EXTRA
The Co-Op Bank Everyday Extra is an excellent choice for senior couples since it offers travel insurance valid up to the age of 79 at a yearly cost of £180.
This option enables numerous global travels for up to 45 days each trip and comes with coverage for winter activities totaling 21 days annually along with golfing protection.
The service provides mobile phone covers exclusively for account holders, yet it does include worldwide travel insurance for individuals up to age 22, provided they share the same residence as the account holder or are enrolled in full-time education and remain unmarried.
The insurance coverage can be up to £400 annually with no required minimum payment.
NATIONWIDE FLEXPLUS
Families might be attracted to the Nationwide Flexplus because it provides global travel insurance coverage not only for the account holder and their spouse but also for dependents up to age 23. Additionally, it includes phone insurance for both the spouse and children at an annual cost of £216.
The insured phones’ beneficiaries must be under 19 years old; however, those up to 22 can qualify if they are enrolled full-time in an educational institution and remain unmarried.
The limit for claims per year is four, and typical mobile phone insurance costs around £80 annually. Making full use of this offer could provide excellent value.
The UK and European breakdown coverage is provided free of charge for the account holder(s) who can use this service when traveling in any vehicle along with up to seven additional individuals.
The agreement is worth around £500, which means you’ll be making significant savings.
HALIFAX ULTIMATE REWARD
The Halifax UltimateReward account charges £228 annually, but it offers more benefits.
global travel coverage for trips up to 31 days long, with options for winter sports and golf included for both you and your spouse aged up to 71, as well as kids under 19.
The bank account additionally includes car insurance and U للغاصند
صند
K breakdown cover.
LLOYDS
The Club Lloyds Silver account stands out as the most affordable choice among packaged bank accounts, costing just £135 annually. It might be ideal for you if you’re comfortable with having fewer benefits included.
Additionally, there is a minimum monthly deposit requirement of £2,000; however, you will receive a complimentary £175 bonus when switching from another bank.
This is the sole bank on the list that provides both fee-free spending and ATM withdrawals overseas.
Travel insurance designed for families is valid for the UK and Europe until the age of 65, covering activities like skiing as well as events such as weddings and business trips. This policy includes coverage for you, your spouse, and offspring who are younger than 18 years old.
Although the breakdown coverage primarily includes roadside assistance within the UK, the account holder also receives mobile coverage.
HSBC PREMIER
If you fall into the category of high earners, you may want to look at HSBC Premier.
There’s no monthly charge; instead, having a £100,000 deposit credited to your account each month provides unlimited global family travel insurance at no extra cost.
This policy will cover both you and your partner until the age of 70, with options for winter sports and business coverage included, valid for trips up to a maximum of 31 days each.
Children aged 18 or up to 23 if they are still in full-time education are included when traveling with the account holder or residing with relatives.
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by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | consumer price index, cost of living, economic policy, economics, inflation
In March, South Korea experienced a 2.1% rise in consumer prices compared to the previous year, which marks the third consecutive month that inflation has surpassed the central bank’s 2% target. This uptick was primarily due to increasing food prices, as significant food corporations raised their prices in response to elevated global raw material expenses and internal political instability.
Statistics Korea reported on April 2 that the consumer price index (CPI) was recorded at 116.29 in March, marking an increase of 2.1% compared to the previous year. Following four consecutive months where inflation stayed within the 1% range—from September through December 2024—inflation picked up speed again, reaching 2.2% in January and slightly decreasing to 2.0% in February.
Oil prices, which were a significant contributor to inflation earlier in the year, increased by 2.8% in March. This rise was relatively small due to reduced international oil costs, influenced by an uptick in U.S. crude output, slowly impacting local markets. In terms of monthly changes, gasoline and diesel prices decreased by 2.1% and 2.2% respectively.
Nonetheless, the expenses for processed foods and dining out rose significantly, maintaining inflation rates higher than the central bank’s objectives. The cost of processed foods escalated by 3.6% in March compared to the previous year, marking the most substantial rise since January 2024. Notably, products like coffee (up 8.3%) and bread (increased by 6.3%) experienced sharp jumps primarily because of escalating input costs. Experts observed that certain food producers exploited the prevailing political unrest to implement price surges that exceeded justifiable levels based solely on increased production costs.
Rising food expenses resulted in higher restaurant charges, with dining inflation climbing by 3.0% for the consecutive second month. Dishes like sashimi (5.4%) and fried chicken (5.3%) experienced notable cost increases, exacerbating customer dissatisfaction regarding escalating meal prices.
Outside of fluctuating food and energy costs, core inflation increased by 1.9% compared to the previous year in March, continuing an upward trend over the last six months with gains mostly within the 1% range. Additionally, the cost-of-living index, measuring 144 commonly bought items and services, went up by 2.4%, surpassing general inflation rates for five consecutive months now.
by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | crime, government, news, politics, politics and law
Operatives of the Department of State Security have arrested two principal suspects involved in the killing of 16 Nigerians of northern extraction in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government last week.
As stated by Governor Monday Okpehbolo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the suspects were apprehended by agents of the Department for State Security (DSS) in Uromi, based on reliable information.
He pointed out that agents from different security organizations were searching for additional crucial suspects linked to the regrettable events.
He stated, “Agents from the Department of State Security have detained two main suspects implicated in the murder of 16 individuals of northern Nigerian origin in Uromi within the Esan North East Local Government area earlier this week.”
The individuals under suspicion were apprehended by agents from the DSS in Uromi, based on reliable information. Various security agency personnel are currently searching for additional key figures implicated in these regrettable events.
The most recent update indicates that both primary suspects detained by the DSS officers have been moved to Abuja, which serves as the country’s capital, for additional questioning and potential legal proceedings under the oversight of the pertinent agencies, according to information obtained by The PUNC.
A source informed PUNCH that the 14 individuals apprehended for their alleged involvement in the murders have been moved to the Force headquarters as investigations into the case remain ongoing.
He pointed out that moving the suspects to Abuja was done according to the instructions issued by the Inspector-General of Police.
I can assure you that the suspects have been transported to Abuja as instructed by the IGP, and investigations regarding the case are continuing.
Itua also mentioned that he couldn’t verify whether the compensation pledged to the victim’s family would be monetary.
However, he stated that both the Edo and Kano state administrations are collaborating to develop an appropriate compensation plan for the families of the victims.
As you know, Governor Okpehbolo had meetings with the Kano State Government and visited the families of the 16 individuals who were killed; during these visits, he pledged to provide compensation.
I can’t specify the exact nature of the compensation, but both state governments are discussing measures to guarantee that the families of the victims receive appropriate restitution.
A person from Uromi, identifying himself only as Michael, stated that people living in the region where these murders occurred were abandoning their villages out of fear they might be detained.
He mentioned that women crowded the Ojuromi at the Uromi palace to demonstrate against the random arrests occurring in Uromi after the killing of 16 travelers.
He stated, “Currently, individuals are vacating the premises where the killings occurred due to concerns about potential arrest by law enforcement officers tasked with apprehending all those responsible.”
I think the demonstration held by the women on Monday is related to the random arrests of locals carried out by law enforcement agencies.
In the meantime, the Edo State branch of the All Progressives Congress has alleged that several key opposing political parties are plotting to create a crisis within the state with the aim of making it unmanageable.
Jarret Tenebe, who is the chairman of the APC in the state, mentioned this at a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja.
“We have learned that the leaders of several prominent opposing political parties within our state, together with two additional groups, have concocted an irresponsible and perilous scheme aimed at provoking unrest and making Edo unmanageable,” he stated.
Tenebe claimed that the intention of those involved in the conspiracy was to compel President Bola Tinubu to impose an emergency situation in the state.
Their malevolent aim is evident: they wish to compel President Bola Tinubu into declaring an emergency situation in Edo, as they lack faith in attaining success before the Edo Election Petition Tribunal.
The Nigerian news agency has reported that the tribunal plans to announce its decision on Wednesday regarding the petition submitted by the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the results of the gubernatorial elections held on September 21, 2024, within the state.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Apr 2, 2025 | crime, culture, korean, military, politics
The opening of a museum honoring Yun Bong-gil, who was put to death in 1932, has been delayed following objections from conservative factions.
The inauguration of a memorial museum in Kanazawa,
Japan
A dedication event honoring a Korean nationalist was suddenly canceled due to intense objections from right-wing organizations, highlighting the persistent tensions surrounding Japan’s historical colonization.
The three-story Yun Bong-gil Memorial Information Center was set to be inaugurated near Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture on Saturday. However, the opening was delayed following protests from Japanese ultra-nationalist groups who gathered in the vicinity.
Yun Bong-gil gained recognition for executing a bombing assault against Japanese government representatives in Shanghai during 1932.
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To prevent possible unrest at the museum, law enforcement set up barriers and kept a watchful eye. Approximately 70 cars drove around the area for about three hours, waving Japanese imperial flags and playing aggressive tunes, as reported by the Sankei newspaper.
Earlier, a group of Japanese nationalists tried to prevent the museum from opening by seeking legal recourse, however, their case was rejected in court.
The organization Mindan, which oversees the museum, has faced previous attacks, such as an incident on March 2 where a member of a nationalist group drove a car into the local office of the South Korean community association in Kanazawa.
According to local news outlets, the vehicle featured the emblem of an extreme-right organization along with a rising sun flag. The motorist, identified as Kenji Goto, was apprehended on site and admitted to deliberately aiming for the structure.
Kim Gwang-man, the South Korean head of the museum initiative, informed Yonhap that the center’s opening date remained uncertain. He stated, “Setting another date might just invite criticism from right-wing groups.”
In South Korea, Yun is honored as a national icon, respected for giving up his life to aid in the liberation of the Korean peninsula from Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945). Advocates of the museum argue that it seeks to pay tribute to Yun’s heritage and teach upcoming generations about his significant contribution to the Korean independence struggle.
Yun, who was born in June 1908, relocated to Shanghai in 1931 with the resolve to combat Japanese oppression.
The explosion he orchestrated at Hongkou Park in 1932 was aimed at an event honoring Emperor Showa’s birth anniversary. This act led to the fatalities of notable Japanese figures Teiji Kawabata and General Yoshinori Shirakawa, along with numerous casualties among those present.
After a second bomb failed to explode, Yun was captured and subsequently executed by firing squad at the age of merely 24. Years later, his remains were disinterred and reburied in Seoul, and in 1962, he was posthumously granted the Republic of Korea Cordon, which stands as the country’s supreme accolade.
This individual detonated an explosive device in a crowded park in Shanghai, resulting in the deaths of two Japanese nationals and injuries to numerous others.
Ken Kato, the conservative Japanese businessman
Ken Kato, a conservative businessman from Tokyo, criticized the museum’s inauguration, calling it “highly provocative.”
He stated that this individual triggered an explosion within a public park in Shanghai, resulting in the deaths of two Japanese nationals, numerous injuries, and endangering the safety of several bystanders.
Kato emphasized the importance of recognizing the sentiments of the Japanese people, stating, “Imagine the reaction if a Japanese organization proposed opening a museum in Seoul aimed at portraying the period under Japanese rule as beneficial for the Korean Peninsula.”
News about the museum’s interrupted opening has sparked furious reactions in South Korea, with remarks on the Hankyoreh newspaper’s online platform urging for unity and posing the question, “Who will speak up for Korea?”
Emotions are also strongly charged in Japan, as evidenced by a posting on the Yahoo Japan news site stating: “If you attempt to honor individuals responsible for terroristic acts, naturally, protests will ensue.”
As stated elsewhere, honor Yun Bong-gil in Korea,” one message said. “Commemorating him in Japan would be considered harassment. If Japan attempted something like this in Korea, they would protest vehemently.
Mindan was approached for comments about the demonstrations opposing the museum.
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