by admin | Mar 30, 2025 | cambodia, events and festivals, travel destinations, vietnam, world
Phu Quoc Island, located in southern Vietnam, ranked among the top ten most sought-after destinations in the country for the approaching Hung Kings’ Festival in early April, as reported by travel agency Booking.com.
Da Nang emerged at the top of the rankings, with Dalat and Nha Trang following closely behind, according to accommodation inquiries for stays from April 4th through April 7th.
The Vietnamese commemorate their ancestors’ death anniversaries on the tenth day of the third lunar month, set for April 7th this year—a Monday—resulting in a three-day holiday encompassing the upcoming weekend.
The dry season in Phu Quoc occurs between November and April, providing sunny conditions perfect for enjoying outdoor beach activities.
Last year, Phu Quoc was ranked as the world’s second most beautiful island by an American publication.
Travel + Leisure
, after Maldives.
In the initial two months of this year, the island received 1.4 million visitors, with 320,888 being foreign travelers, representing a 52.7% rise compared to the same period last year.
by admin | Mar 29, 2025 | aviation, happiness, Travel, wellness, world
The nation acclaimed as the planet’s most joyful community, which typically sees very few visitors, is poised to unveil a massive global airport.
Bhutan, a landlocked nation situated between
India
and
China
will unveil a new airport featuring relaxation areas equipped with yoga studios and sound bathing spaces.
The Gelephu International Airport will feature expansive gardens along with an outdoor forest known as the Forest Spine. This area will divide the domestic from the international terminals.
It will include designated areas for yoga sessions, open-air relaxation zones, as well as spots for meditation and enjoying sound baths.
The airport design features a sequence of wooden diamond-shaped structures, mimicking a mountainous terrain.
Although this will mark the nation’s second international airport, there are presently no non-stop flights connecting the UK to Bhutan—thus, this development could facilitate an increase in British visitors.
The airport will be capable of handling up to 123 flights each day, with an annual passenger limit of 1.3 million.
A lofty aspiration for a nation attracting approximately 316,000 visitors annually.
The majority of long-haul flights arrive at Paro International Airport located near the city of Thimphu, which serves as the nation’s capital.
However, due to its proximity to a mountain range, only a limited number of flights can touch down each day, with most being short-distance journeys.
Located in southern Bhutan close to the Indian border, Gelephu is easier to reach.
The architectural company known as Bjarke Ingels Group was responsible for designing the airport. They stated that it has been crafted to embody Bhutan’s concept of ‘gross national happiness,’ using the inhabitants’ wellbeing as an indicator of living standards.
The Founder and Creative Director, Bjarke Ingels, stated: “When visiting a location, your initial and final impression often comes from the airport.”
‘To capture the essence of both the nation’s natural beauty and cultural heritage for the Gelephu International Airport, we aimed to integrate the concept of the Mindfulness City.’
The woodlands enveloping the elevated regions are permitted to extend from the entrance square across the airstrip up to the runway.
Bhutan is
regarded as the ‘planet’s most joyful nation’ due to its Gross National Happiness Index.
This index evaluates collective happiness among the populace by considering factors such as mental wellness, physical health, educational attainment, quality of governance, environmental sustainability, time management, cultural richness, economic prosperity, and social cohesion.
The expense for the airport remains unofficial, yet it might reach up to £178 million, with plans to launch operations by 2029.
Even though its location is quite intricate, numerous members of the royal family have traveled to Bhutan. This includes King Charles who made his visit in 1998, followed by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in 2016.
Bhutan also boasts a royal family with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as the monarch and Queen Jetsun Pema, often compared to Kate Middleton.
Frequently celebrated as ‘the most beautiful royal pair globally,’ Queen Jetsun Pema and King Jigme Khesar are parents to three youngsters: Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, Prince Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, and Princess Sonam Yangden Wangchuck.
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by admin | Mar 28, 2025 | africa, olympics, south africa, sports, world
On March 27, 2025, Addis Ababa — Botswana’s Minister of Sports and Culture, Jacob Kelebeng, has voiced his enthusiasm after Botswana secured the hosting privileges for the 2026 World Athletics Relays.
The global athletics organization, World Athletics, has announced that Botswana, an African country, will be hosting the 2026 World Athletics Relays. This event is set for May 2nd and 3rd, 2026.
Kelebeng announced on his social media platform, celebrating the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) for achieving this significant milestone.
It will mark the first occasion for Botswana to stage a major global sporting event at an advanced level across all sports, as well as being the inaugural hosting of the World Athletics Relays in African territory.
The positive announcement came from World Athletics President Sebastian Coe during the conclusion of the two-day council meeting held on Tuesday in Nanjing, China.
According to the World Athletics press release, the event is set to take place in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, from May 2 to May 3.
Hosting the global event signifies a significant milestone in Botswana’s rise to prominence in athletics and aligns with the nation’s 60th anniversary of independence in 2026.
Botswana’s men’s 4×400-meter relay squad stands out as a formidable presence in this discipline. They currently hold the title of world relays champions after claiming gold at the 2024 competition staged in the Bahamas. Following their victory, they secured an Olympic silver medal to conclude their competitive run. This team boasts three global relay awards: one bronze, one silver, and one gold.
Furthermore, the Botswana squad has initiated their preparation to retain their gold medal at the forthcoming 2025 World Athletics Relays scheduled for May in Guangzhou, China. The reigning Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo, is anticipated to continue as an integral member of the team.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | europe, nigeria, passports and international travel, Travel, world
The Nigerian travel content creator, Alma Asinobi, who recently accomplished her groundbreaking trip spanning all seven continents using only her Nigerian passport, has marked this achievement by recognizing the Nigerian flag as both the initial and quickest one to visit each continent globally.
Following 71 hours, 26 minutes, and 25 seconds of continuous journeying, Asinovi arrived in Sydney on a Sunday after traversing the Nigerian flag from Antarctica through South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and finally reaching Australia.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday following her accomplishment, she shared, “The Nigerian flag has officially become the first and quickest one to reach all seven continents! Seems like my job here is finished. I am really looking forward to returning home.”
Her trip wasn’t without hurdles as Asinobi encountered problems with visas, delayed flights, and various travel limitations because of her Nigerian passport.
Asinobo mentioned that she was not allowed to board her flight to Perth, Australia, which led her to reschedule for a later departure to Sydney. This misfortune resulted in her delayed arrival.
Acknowledging the rest she required following the extensive tour, she mentioned that even during her sleep, the impact of her travels persisted. She explained that she would often wake up in distress after having dreams about a last call for departure.
Wow… Continent 8 (Dreamland) really worked out well for me. No visas required, no flights necessary, just a comfortable bed. Honestly, any bed would’ve done the trick. All I wanted was for my puffed-up feet to stay still for a few hours, and mission accomplished.
“As I slept, I heard ‘this is the final boarding call…’ and jolted out of bed in surprise, realizing it was just a dream. This isn’t usual,” she penned.
According to PUNCH Online, although Asinobi did not surpass the current Guinness World Record of 64 hours held by American veteran Johnny Cruz Buckingham, her achievement still holds significant historical importance. Her accomplishment has ignited extensive conversations regarding passport inequality and the obstacles hindering worldwide movement for Nigerians.
She eagerly anticipates her homecoming celebration on March 30, with plans to set another record by having Nigerians gather signatures on the flag she transported around the globe.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | happiness, politics, society, welfare, world
Finland has been crowned the globe’s happiest nation for eight years running, as stated in the World Happiness Report 2025.
Specialists point out that easy access to natural areas and an effective social support network contribute to this.
This is followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
These nations consistently achieve top scores in indicators such as social support, trust, and general well-being.
The World Happiness Report polled over 100,000 individuals across 140 nations and regions.
“Contentment in Finland isn’t defined by unceasing happiness but rather by a feeling of safety, trust, and equilibrium in everyday living. This satisfaction stems from the assurance that help is available whenever required, be it via robust social welfare systems, superior educational opportunities, or proximity to natural environments,” stated Miika Mäkitalo, CEO of
HappyOrNot
, a Finnish firm that assists companies gauge customer contentment.
Mäkitalo added: “In our community, we uphold principles of equity and environmental stewardship, fostering a setting where individuals receive support and can flourish. By implementing policies like extensive paternity leave and accessible early childhood care, we guarantee that households enjoy economic stability along with ample opportunities to bond with offspring, underscoring a broader dedication to health and harmony between professional duties and personal life.”
Eating together and having someone to count on
Communities where individuals often have meal-sharing experiences tend to exhibit greater levels of happiness and stronger social support systems.
The sole EU nation appearing in the upper echelon is Poland, where individuals partake in over 10 communal meals each week on average.
In contrast, Estonia sits at the bottom of the list, with residents reporting just 2.7 shared meals per week.
Individuals residing solo tend to be unhappier.
In Europe, households comprising four to five individuals show the greatest degrees of happiness.
Nevertheless, loneliness amongst younger individuals is increasing, with 19% stating they have nobody to depend on — this marks a 39% rise from what was seen in 2006.
A lot of young people often undervalue their friends’ ability to understand and share feelings, causing them to shy away from forming connections and losing chances for significant bonds.
Deeds of compassion saw an upsurge during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be 10% higher than before the outbreak.
It seems that donating and volunteering are more prevalent in Central and Eastern Europe, whereas sharing tangible assets is more frequent in Western Europe.
The current year’s report encourages us to focus on factors beyond conventional measures such as health and wealth. Surprisingly, activities like sharing meals and having trust in others emerge as more significant indicators of happiness than anticipated,” stated Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, who directs Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and co-edits the World Happiness Report. “Amidst today’s climate of social distancing and political division, it becomes essential to discover methods to gather individuals at one table once again—this action is vital for both personal and communal well-being.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | economics, international economics, international trade, venezuela, world
President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Venezuela has shown “extreme hostility” towards the United States, and as of April 2nd, nations buying oil from it will have to pay tariffs on all their imports into the U.S.
These duties would probably increase the taxation burden for China, which accounted for 68% of Venezuela’s oil exports in 2023, as per a 2024 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The report indicates that Spain, India, Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam are some of the nations also getting oil from Venezuela.
However, even the United States—despite imposing sanctions on Venezuela—continues to purchase oil from the nation. According to data from the Census Bureau, the U.S. imported approximately 8.6 million barrels of oil from Venezuela in January, which constituted part of the total imports for that month at around 202 million barrels.
On Monday, the Treasury Department granted an extension to US-based Chevron Corp., permitting them to extract and export Venezuelan oil until May 27. This extension, referred to as a general license, provides relief from economic sanctions and enables the continuation of their oil production activities.
In February, Trump declared an end to the business ties between Chevron and Venezuela, which had served as a crucial financial support for the South American nation.
The Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, retaliated by stating that the U.S. had breached global commerce regulations through what he termed as an “unjustified, unlawful, and desperate action.” This move was aimed at impeding the progress of the South American country.
The government stated that for many years, the rejected far-right faction in Venezuela has advocated for economic sanctions, aiming to cripple the country.
Their failure stems from Venezuela being a sovereign nation where its people have stood firm with pride, and due to the global refusal of any economic tyranny.
The US president contends that tariffs will revive manufacturing jobs instead of exacerbating inflationary pressures and impeding economic growth, contrary to warnings from economists. He recently cited an informal example when Hyundai declared at the White House plans to construct a $5.8 billion (€5.4 billion) steel facility in Louisiana.
This investment clearly shows that tariffs are highly effective,” stated Trump, adding that the new facility being built by the South Korean carmaker will generate 1,400 employment opportunities.
The executive chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, Euisun Chung, conveyed to the president: “We feel truly honored to be alongside you and delighted to construct the future together.”
In 2024, Maduro was inaugurated for a third presidential term in Venezuela; however, both the country’s opposition groups and the European Union dismissed this swearing-in ceremony as invalid due to claims of rigged voting processes.
The former US President Joe Biden’s administration similarly condemned the “fraudulent” election and enacted fresh sanctions on Caracas. Notably, they raised the bounty to $25 million (€23.9m) for details resulting in the apprehension of the Venezuelan leader.
During Maduro’s long tenure as ruler, millions of Venezuelans have fled their homeland due to political instability, economic downturn, and severe shortages of essential supplies like food, medication, and power.
A more daring action against China?
Trump’s recent tariff threats indicate that his administration might be prepared to adopt more aggressive actions against China as part of their push to reshape the rules governing the worldwide economic system.
The Trump administration has already imposed blanket 20% tariffs on goods coming from China in an attempt to combat illegal fentanyl trafficking. However, adding yet another 25% duty on these imports might heighten the strain between the globe’s two biggest economic powers.
Trump said Venezuela will face a “secondary” tariff because it is the home to the gang Tren de Aragua. The Trump administration is deporting immigrants that it claims are members of that gang who illegally crossed into the United States.
Trump has labelled 2 April as “Liberation Day” based on his still unclear plans to roll out import taxes to match the rates charged by other countries, as well as fully levy 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada, the two largest US trading partners.
The US President has furthermore raised the 2018 duties on steel and aluminum to 25% for every imported product and has pledged to impose extra taxes on vehicles, medical products, timber, semiconductor chips, and copper.
On Monday, the US stock market was rising as investors anticipated that the tariffs would be more precisely aimed rather than being widespread. Nevertheless, the S&P 500 index has declined year-to-date due to worries that a trade conflict might impede economic expansion and boost inflationary pressures.
However, Trump has been rather carefully guarding his intentions regarding tariffs, stating on Monday that although he aims to impose “reciprocal” charges, they “might end up being even more lenient than expected.”
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