oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | beaches, events and festivals, tourist attractions, tourists, Travel
Cox’s Bazar, April 2 – In Cox’s Bazar, home to the planet’s longest uninterrupted natural seaside stretch, there has been a significant influx of tourists due to the elongated Eid-ul-Fitr break attracting myriad visitors.
The beaches at Laboni Point, Sugandha Point, and Kolatoli Point buzz with tourists, fostering a lively festival atmosphere.
Visitors are enjoying an array of beach pursuits—some zip around on jet skis, capturing thrills amidst the waves; some lounge about on inflated rafts basking in the sun. Meanwhile, groups of family and friends find respite from the warmth beneath vibrant parasols, relishing the soothing sea air.
Hotels Nearly Full Booked
The president of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel, Motel, and Guesthouse Owners’ Association, Abul Kashem Sikder, mentioned that approximately 90% of rooms across over 500 establishments including hotels, motels, and resorts had been reserved beforehand.
Sylhet prepares for an influx of 1.5 million visitors during Eid as business opportunities surge.
“Our facilities have the capacity to accommodate up to 187,000 visitors daily, and we’re experiencing an unusually high demand during this Eid season,” Sikder stated.
Robin, who hails from Dhaka, mentioned that during the Eid holidays, Cox’s Bazar is considered the premier spot for travelers seeking an ideal mix of enjoyment and rest along the coast.
Improved Security Protocols for Visitors
To guarantee a secure time at the seaside, the Sea Safe Lifeguard organization has stationed 27 certified lifeguards along Sugandha, Kolatoli, and Laboni Points—the most popular areas of the shore.
Imtiaz Ahmed, who serves as the Field Team Manager for Sea Safe Lifeguard, stated, “Our crews are on heightened alert, and we’re conducting educational initiatives to avoid incidents while swimming at sea.”
Sajek and Khagrachari are now accessible to tourists following a month-long restriction.
Additional DIG Apel Mahmud from the Cox’s Bazar Tourist Police mentioned that assistance stations have been established at crucial locations, and surveillance has been increased in collaboration with the district police to guarantee safety.
“The aim is to guarantee that each traveler has a secure and stress-free holiday experience, leaving with cherished recollections,” he mentioned additionally.
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | airfares, flights, flying, software and applications, Travel
-
EXPLORE FURTHER: As a physician, here are the drugs you should definitely steer clear of before boarding a plane
Skyscanner has always been recognized as the destination for finding the most affordable flights, and now they’re providing a new opportunity to secure an even better deal.
The application has introduced a new feature named DROPS, designed to locate return flights that have decreased in price by at least 20 percent over the past seven days.
Available exclusively through the revamped app, this feature can help vacationers save both time and up to several hundred pounds when making flight reservations.
To secure these discounted fares, all users need to do is visit the DROPS tool and enter their departure location.
The application goes through an extensive database of travel costs to identify the most significant decreases in flight prices, which must be at least a 20 percent reduction for destinations around the globe.
For instance, when MailOnline Travel examined the situation,
Skyscanner app
, and utilized the DROPS tool to search for flights in May 2025. We discovered routes from New York to
Gatwick
For £404, which is £315 less than £719.
We likewise discovered a returning flight to Ibiza from
London
The price at City Airport decreased by almost £200, dropping from £830 to £639.
There were significant discounts on other flights to various European cities departing from London’s airports as well.
We discovered savings of up to £68 for Krakow, with flights available at an incredible price of £48.
Fare for flights to Pisa was decreased by £87.
People traveling from Birmingham and Liverpool airports might also benefit from significant discounts.
Fares for flights departing from Birmingham to Verona this month have decreased by £153, whereas tickets heading to Alicante in April showed a reduction of £45.
Regarding the new tool, Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s Travel Expert, stated: “Our aim is to assist budget-savvy travelers in discovering and reserving their upcoming crucial journey effortlessly and with assurance.”
‘Using DROPS, they gain effortless access to fantastic deals right at their fingertips, ensuring they get great bargains.’
The feature from Skyscanner that scans as many as 80 billion prices daily can be found in version 7.135 of their application available on the app store.
Read more
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | community, islands, nature, tourist attractions, tourists
A renowned island on Instagram, once celebrated as the most picturesque in the Mediterranean, has transformed into a nightmarish habitat teeming with rats, resembling a dilapidated favela in some neglected nation.
Around the globe, the small Maltese island of Comino has earned recognition for its stunning turquoise waters and its well-known limestone beach called the Blue Lagoon.
The charming island’s appeal has grown thanks to social media influencers visiting Comino for the ideal photo opportunity and due to its feature in popular Hollywood movies like Troy.
Nevertheless, even though Malta’s tourism board calls it the ‘most beautiful location in the Mediterranean,’ Comino is currently suffering from excessive tourist traffic.
Throughout the summertime, as many as 10,000 visitors arrive daily by boats, only to be squeezed into the crowded bay.
Impromptu bars blaring loud tunes encircle the attendees offering alcohol and finger foods, only to have these items discarded as trash, thus becoming a readily available meal for Comino’s rapidly growing rodent populace.
Activists in Malta are currently battling to safeguard Comine, designated as a protected natural reserve and avian sanctuary, against potential destruction.
A civic organization called Movimento Graffiti is advocating for significant reforms in how the island is governed.
In 2022, they organized a large demonstration during which they took control of and removed sun loungers and umbrellas.
A participant from the group referred to the present circumstances as ‘intolerable’, according to Andre Callus.
‘The residents of Gozo and Malta consider it a nightmare, so they avoid going there now. Commercial enterprises have completely overtaken Comino. Despite being a tiny location, there are 11 kiosks selling food and drinks. Their primary aim seems to be maximizing profits from the island,’ he explained.
The Daily Telegraph
.
Maltese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) claim that a study assessing the number of tourists the island can accommodate was suppressed by the Maltese authorities. However, numerous residents clearly observe the adverse effects of overcrowding due to tourism.
Residents of the tiny island nation took to writing letters to local newspapers criticizing the current condition of Comino.
One remarked that the once-famous Blue Lagoon now resembled “a dilapidated favela in some neglected nation.”
Someone else commented: “This formerly picturesque island has transformed into a circus, and I would not visit it again even if someone offered me money.”
The Maltese government is attempting to carefully navigate the space between safeguarding the natural allure of Comino and fostering Malta’s tourism industry — an industry that constitutes 15 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.
Ian Borg, who serves as the minister for tourism, suggests reducing the daily visitor limit to half, dropping from 10,000 to just 5,000 individuals permitted to explore the island each day.
In order to implement this legislation, the authorities must verify with commercial boat owners the number of passengers they transport and the frequency of their daily trips.
Mr. Borg has additionally committed to reviewing the permitted number of bars operating and installing public restrooms.
Nevertheless, organizations like BirdLife Malta advocate for Comino’s designation as a nature reserve to be upheld, which includes removing waste every day and limiting visitor numbers.
Comino symbolizes the broader challenges posed by tourism for Malta; this small country with a populace of slightly more than 500,000 experienced an astounding 3.6 million tourists visiting last year.
To cater to visitors, extensive shoreline projects have been greenlit, but activists argue these initiatives are causing irreparable harm to Malta’s natural surroundings.
Mark Sultana, CEO of BirdLife Malta, wishes that the condition of the Blue Lagoon serves as an awakening for both politicians and developers.
“The cow has been milked excessively,” he stated.
Read more
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | boats and ships, cruises, disasters, incident, news
Travelers on a cruise ship faced enormous 40-foot waves while navigating the turbulent seas of the infamous region.
Drake
Passage.
Lesley Ann Murphy, a travel blogger who was onboard Quark Expeditions’ Ocean Explorer cruise ship, recorded breathtaking video of the ship navigating through massive waves and surging waters.
Murphy gauged that some of the waves reached heights of 30 to 40 feet, with her footage capturing their immense size as they loomed high above the vessel and crashed against the glazed windows.
In her video, which was uploaded to
Instagram
, multiple passengers were spotted congregating at the big windows as the azure waves surged upward before harshly colliding with the observation deck.
The frothy white waves slammed into the sides, causing the vessel to sway violently from side to side as passengers stumbled and toppled over.
At once, a cluster of travelers appeared to dash back and forth as the vessel rocked with the currents, while a television could be observed swinging from the wall because of the wave impacts.
A single individual confronted the daunting waves and tried to maintain his equilibrium on the deck of the ship akin to surfing as a massive wave loomed ahead of the vessel.
In her video description, Murphy characterized the journey through the seas situated between the southernmost point of the South American continent and Antarctica as a ’48-hour thrill ride.’
“I’m delighted to share that we made it through not just one but two challenging Drake shakes! To explain, the Drake Passage is located between the southernmost point of Argentina and Antarctica. This stretch of ocean is well-known for its incredibly turbulent waters,” she explained.
If luck is on your side, you might encounter the serene Drake Lake. But if you’re like us, prepare for the thrilling Drake Shake complete with massive 35-foot waves.
“Indeed, we were secure and it felt absolutely crazy—and at moments, quite enjoyable?! Totally worth it for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!” she remarked.
We were instructed to remain in our cabins all afternoon yesterday, but there were certainly positive aspects to be found amidst this situation… We had some free time, we shared many laughs, I reflected on this incredible journey, I video chatted with my friends, and surprisingly enough, I discovered that I don’t feel queasy at sea!
However, Murphy is not the first person to confront the frightening ocean swells.
Footage from last year showed a luxurious cruise ship navigating through a fierce storm near Antarctica, depicting the exact moment
Waves nearly reaching 100 feet crashed into the vessel.
and drenched the deck with icy seawater.
The Atlas World Voyager cruise ship was navigating through the Drake Passage when it encountered a severe storm.
Gale-force winds reaching speeds of 115 mph transformed the ocean surface into chaos, generating massive 30-meter (93-foot) waves that crashed against the luxurious yacht throughout this treacherous voyage.
The thrilling footage captured from the deck illustrates how the yacht was raised up onto towering waves and then tilted, dropping dramatically downwards as if falling several stories.
Tables, chairs, sunbeds, and various other debris could be spotted drifting around as the deck was engulfed by the floodwaters.
Luckily, the team successfully navigated the challenging waters, and the yacht arrived at its destination—Ushuaia in southern Argentina—without significant harm.
Even though the conditions were harsh, the yacht managed to navigate through the Drake Passage without any problems.
What happened to MS Maud, a Norwegian cruise liner, cannot be said of other vessels. The incident occurred just days prior to Christmas 2023 as the ship navigated through the North Sea. A sudden monstrous wave struck the vessel so violently that it caused a loss of power, leaving the ship at drift.
When MS Maud was approximately 162 nautical miles from Denmark’s western coastline and around 217 nautical miles from Britain’s eastern coastline, a colossal wave struck the ship, smashing the windows on the navigation deck.
The vessel, transporting 400 individuals including passengers and crew members, embarked on a 14-day voyage to see the Northern Lights, departing from Tilbury on December 9 and scheduled to arrive back at the Essex port on December 23.
Video footage acquired by MailOnline captures the precise instant when the rogue wave struck, rendering the vessel unable to steer properly and necessitating a towing operation to Germany.
The passenger who captured the video remarked: “I had the bridge view displayed on the TV to help prevent motion sickness and spontaneously chose to record it!”
The moment the wave hit, the television turned off abruptly, and the ship’s emergency alarm blared, signaling that something had gone awry.
Read more
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | disaster management, disasters, news, politics, tourists
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports intends to revamp its approach for the latter part of this year in response to the declining Chinese market and diminished trust after the recent earthquake. The aim is to set up a fresh crisis management group.
The ministry plans to engage in discussions with a strategic advisory group to guide the Tourism Authority of Thailand as they implement this initiative, stated Natthriya Thaweevong, who serves as the permanent secretary of the ministry.
Thailand has encountered several issues this year impacting tourist confidence, such as the earthquakes that struck both Myanmar and Thailand recently, along with worldwide economic difficulties, according to Ms. Natthriya.
She mentioned that the nation can no longer depend on the Chinese market as heavily as it once did. Before the pandemic hit in 2019, Thailand saw an all-time high of 11 million tourists arriving from mainland China. However, the comeback after the pandemic has been sluggish, with visitor counts failing to recover fully so far. The previous year witnessed approximately 6.7 million Chinese travelers visiting the country, and projections for this year anticipate about 7 million arrivals.
The Tourism and Sports Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, announced the establishment of a Tourism Risk and Crisis Management team aimed at supporting the sector. This team will include members representing various organizations within the tourism supply chain, including entities like the Interior Ministry and the Department of Land Transport.
Based on early responses from businesses, he mentioned that the ministry intends to work alongside the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to provide certification for hotels that successfully pass a security inspection post-earthquake.
“We aim to concentrate on conveying one key message: Thailand remains a secure destination for travelers,” he stated.
Mr. Sorawong mentioned that the Chinese market is particularly reactive to information about the earthquake, and the ministry intends to talk with the Chinese ambassador to try and rebuild trust.
He mentioned his intention to bring influential figures from China’s media landscape to showcase that every province across the nation is safe for tourism, along with Bangkok, which faced the biggest impact.
In light of the approaching Songkran festivities, all events are scheduled to proceed without changes. The ministry has requested that the Tourist Police collaborate with local law enforcement agencies to guarantee tourist safety across key regions.
It also motivates visitors to install the Thailand Tourist Police app, enabling them to get direct warnings from the Tourist Police in case of any unforeseen incidents.
Mr. Sorawong expressed his belief that the slow-down in booking activities wouldn’t persist, since officials have been diligently addressing the problem.
The president of the Thai Hotels Association, Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, stated that the government ought to implement the domestic co-payment tourism promotion program at the earliest opportunity.
He projected that the typical hotel occupancy rate for April and the Songkran holiday season would stay at approximately 60%, which is below the previous year’s figure of 65%.
In the meantime, a spokesperson for the Thai Airlines Association mentioned that flight reservations experienced a decline of 40-60% over the two days following the earthquake. Notably, there was an exceptionally steep reduction in bookings from China, which fell by 60%.
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Syndigate.info
).
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | banking, business, commerce, loyalty programs, money
PNN
Mumbai (Maharashtra), India, April 2: Customer Capital, a firm that focuses on proprietary commerce loyalty solutions,
Bank of Maharashtra
declared a collaboration to launch a special travel platform along with loyalty incentives for
Bank of Maharashtra
cardholders. This partnership between Customer Capital and
Bank of Maharashtra
aiming to improve the value offering
Bank of Maharashtra
Cardholders can enjoy a smooth and rewarding travel booking experience directly via the BANK OF MAHARASHTRA card website and app.
Customer Capital has developed a white-label travel platform called ‘
Tripstacc
This feature permits banks to tailor customer experiences and obtain detailed insights into travel and expenses (T&E), information that cannot be derived from conventional partnership programs. Such capabilities will empower
Bank of Maharashtra
Cardholders can reserve hotels and tickets through a reliable travel website available via the
Bank of Maharashtra
card website and app.
As per a recent study, the loyalty market in India is expected to expand further and could potentially reach $7.92 billion by 2028. Recognizing this significant opportunity, Customer Capital aims to utilize their platform for better understanding and serving Indian consumers. This partnership puts them in an advantageous position to do so.
Bank of Maharashtra
to utilize Customer Capital’s advanced technologies and innovations such as
Tripstacc
, to further boost its operational abilities and gain a competitive advantage.
Govind Sandhu, CEO & Co-Founder of Customer Capital, stated, “We are delighted to announce
Tripstacc
, our captive commerce travel platform for Bank of Maharashtra. This collaboration introduces a distinctive approach that provides numerous advantages to the bank by offering a tailored solution and proposition for its clients. The model will enable
Bank of Maharashtra
deliver greater value to customers, boost involvement and activation, and improve comprehension of travel spending habits thus increasing their proportion of expenditure on travels”
Govind Sandhu also mentioned, “The landscape of India’s loyalty programs is experiencing substantial change, propelled by advancements in technology, artificial intelligence, changing customer preferences, and updated regulatory frameworks. Our aim is to address gaps within the loyalty sector by concentrating on personalized commercial services and have consequently invested in an array of proprietary e-commerce platforms. These can be provided as white-label options for companies aiming to present these directly to their customers. We believe this approach will prove beneficial.”
Bank of Maharashtra
a favored financial ally for its clients.
About Customer Capital:
Customer Capital is an enterprise dedicated to revolutionizing loyalty practices and establishing Loyalty 2.0 through integrated commerce, advanced artificial intelligence technologies, and insights from industry experts. Established in 2022, this firm has developed a range of services designed to turn loyalty initiatives into significant income sources. They specialize in crafting, implementing, and expanding inventive loyalty strategies enhanced by beneficial partnerships. Operating as a comprehensive provider of loyalty management solutions, Customer Capital provides specialized knowledge across various domains such as ecosystem development, accelerator deployment, and technological advancements—this includes their proprietary AI-powered Loyalty Platform along with their Staccs (captive commerce accelerators), which cater specifically to sectors like online travel and e-commerce.
In tandem with targeted advisory support aimed at ensuring these programs resonate deeply with consumers while remaining financially rewarding, Customer Capital utilizes analytics-driven tools and state-of-the-art tech to generate quantifiable benefits for both stakeholders and end-users alike.
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLOSURE: The aforementioned press release has been supplied by
PNN
ANI shall not bear any responsibility for the content thereof.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | culture, events and festivals, tourists, Travel, travel destinations
Dhaka, April 2 — Over time, Eid has transformed from being solely an occasion to visit one’s hometown into a crucial timeframe for domestic travel and tourism.
However, both the broader audience and sector specialists contend that Eid tourism in Bangladesh has grown limited and repetitive.
Nazrul Islam, a 55-year-old high-ranking official at a corporation, had originally intended to go overseas during the Eid holiday.
Nevertheless, he eventually chose to remain in Bangladesh.
Even so, he does not plan to travel anywhere inside the country or even venture out into Dhaka on Eid day.
Rather than doing anything else, he intends to dedicate all of his time to being with his family.
When questioned about his reasoning, he responded, “Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that most festivals in our nation adhere to a similar structure. On Eid day, following the dawn prayer and a communal meal, what typically occurs? People usually head either to a relative’s home, a public garden, or an eating establishment.”
This predetermined Eid celebration, which recurs annually, doesn’t take place in large foreign cities. Even venturing outside of Dhaka proves pointless—after several hours, you’re worn out from witnessing the unchanging scenery.
Mossabber Hossain, who is 72 years old, shares memories of Eid festivities in Dhaka, stating, “In those days, each neighborhood had fairs, there were boat races in Old Dhaka, and horse racing took place in open fields. However, nowadays, Eid mostly involves walking in parks and eating at restaurants.”
A tourism surge is anticipated in Khagrachari during the Eid holidays.
A Metropolis Driven by Commerce, Lacking Celebration
Adil Muhammad Khan, who serves as the president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), pointed out the constraints of Eid celebrations in Dhaka by saying, “The city has grown increasingly commercialized to such an extent that space for non-commercial leisure activities has been significantly reduced.”
A number of areas where fairs used to take place no longer remain today. The waterways designed for boating activities have been overtaken. Bodies of water have been reclaimed to make way for massive office towers, and as a result, eateries inside these structures now serve as focal points for Eid celebrations.
Even public spaces like parks have not escaped this change. If you go to Dhanmondi Lake nowadays, it might seem as though the focus has shifted from the water body itself to the many eateries that now line its shores. There appears to be no vision for an energetic Dhaka. People staying in the city during Eid find themselves stuck in monotonous festivities.
A Dull Encounter Outside of Dhaka
Humayun Rashid, aged 32, went to Cox’s Bazar with his family during the last Eid holiday.
He felt let down by his experience. “Cox’s Bazar can be explored thoroughly within just two days. Anything beyond the beach, such as boat tours, parachute flying, and horseback riding, tends to be overly priced and seems fraudulent.”
He remarked, “Once visitors recognize they are continually taken advantage of, they start losing faith in those locations. During last Eid, approximately 800,000 travelers descended upon Cox’s Bazar. The shore became as packed as a busy fish bazaar in Dhaka. Room rates at hotels surged dramatically, and basic meals were priced multiple times higher than normal. Who would wish to revisit an area like this?”
Tulilia’s Tulip: Enhancing Tourism and Regional Economy
Even though there are complaints, hotels in Cox’s Bazar have already secured bookings of more than 80% for this Eid, with the few available spots anticipated to be taken soon. Nevertheless, numerous travelers continue to express dissatisfaction regarding the increased costs. A tourist named Faisal was searching for a hotel room when he discovered that an average priced, air-conditioned room designed for couples and overlooking the ocean was being charged between Tk 8,000 and Tk 9,000—a price nearly twice as high as normal rates.
Murshid Hossain, who previously managed a hotel in Cox’s Bazar and now serves as a general manager at a three-star hotel in Dhaka, stated, “Hotels find it difficult to occupy their rooms during the low season despite providing discounts greater than 50%. Therefore, to ensure business sustainability and cover employee wages, they have to increase prices significantly when tourism peaks.”
An Unprepared Tourism Industry
Professor Muhammad Shoaib-Ur-Rahman from Dhaka University’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management feels that Bangladesh’s tourism sector is inadequately prepared.
Each year, we’re told that around 1.5 million travelers visit various locations during Eid; however, there isn’t any verified information supporting this statement. Without basing our development of tourist attractions on actual attendance figures and reconsidering what defines enjoyable experiences, genuine progress won’t occur,” he stated.
Travel limitations eased in 4 Bandarban upazilas
He further explained, “Tourists often go to Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban just once or twice and seldom come back. In contrast, locations such as Bali or Bangkok tend to draw returning guests. The main factor behind this difference is that Bangladesh’s travel spots provide a limited variety of experiences. Overseas, tourism combines natural beauty with human ingenuity to produce multiple points of interest. It takes more than couple of days to truly see all that Bangkok has to offer, whereas one could easily complete sightseeing in Cox’s Bazar within a brief period.”
He cautioned that uncontrolled price increases and cartels are adversely affecting both travelers and residents. “Since tourism drives up the prices of essentials, locals begin to view tourists unfavorably. This growing resentment might ultimately result in security issues.”
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | air travel, aviation, civil aviation, flights, flying
Ryanair is seeking £5 million in damages from Britain’s air traffic control authority following disruptions affecting approximately 700,000 passengers. The incident occurred because an off-site engineer was unable to log in due to forgetting his password.
The technician tried for over an hour to access the system remotely and resolve a malfunction at the National Air Traffic Service.
He found it difficult to log in from afar as the system had malfunctioned, thus refusing to acknowledge his password.
The specialist finally got into his vehicle and started driving toward the Southampton headquarters during the August 2023 bank holiday weekend.
However, due to traffic jams, his trip lasted for 95 minutes, by which point flights were being canceled across the nation.
Ryanair claims NATS
It took three hours for the company to be notified about the issue.
resulting in 1,000 of its flights being delayed or canceled.
The airline based in Ireland has charged NATS with neglect and is demanding approximately £4.52 million as compensation, along with covering legal expenses and interest on damages.
The Sun reported
.
The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, criticized NATS engineers during a discussion at the time, saying they were lounging ‘in their pajamas at home’ over one of the most hectic holiday periods of the year.
He characterized the managers at NATS as ‘numpties,’ stating that they were responsible for the ‘breakdown’ of the system and had neglected to provide adequate warnings to airlines.
Last year, a report issued by the Civil Aviation Authority urged technicians to operate from the headquarters indefinitely.
As numerous vacationers found themselves stranded at airports or aboard planes, experts turned to a remote senior engineer for guidance. However, this individual also struggled to comprehend the root cause of the systemic failure.
Ultimately, four hours following the original incident, a call was made to Frequentis Comsoft, the system’s German manufacturer, leading to the identification of the problem.
Once resolved, the backlog had grown so large that numerous passengers didn’t board their flights for several days afterward, resulting in vacations being shortened or canceled entirely.
The investigation revealed that the NATS system failed when attempting to
devise an unconventional flight path from Los Angeles to Paris that includes entering British airspace.
.
This occurred due to two ‘waypoints’ on the route — Devil’s Lake in North Dakota and Deauville in France — having identical three-letter codes.
The system got perplexed as the initial flight plan seemed to indicate it would exit UK airspace for Deauville even before arriving.
In just 20 seconds after getting the plan, both the primary processor and its backup shut down as they were unable to resolve what seemed like an impossible path.
The flight plan processing subsequently switched back to a manual system, which led to a decrease in the hourly handled flights from 800 to only 60.
The investigation report stated: “The repercussions of the failure were significant. The CAA approximated that more than 700,000 travelers and individuals faced disruptions due to the issue, which persisted for multiple days, leading to substantial financial and emotional impacts.”
Read more
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | human rights, politics, politics and government, politics and law, public policy
“The NHRC urged the government to implement specific measures to avoid similar incidents in the future,” it stated.
The NHRC has called for justice regarding the 16 hunters who were lynched last Thursday in Edo State, and has appealed to the government to implement measures designed to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, voiced his worries regarding the mob killing in a media release published in Abuja on Tuesday.
The commission insists that all those responsible must be identified and held accountable.
“The statement urged the government to implement specific measures to avoid similar events from happening again, as there is no excuse for vigilante justice anywhere globally,” it stated.
The 16 travellers were
reportedly lynched
Following their misidentification as kidnappers by local vigilantes on Thursday on the Uromi/Obajana Expressway within the Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Reports indicate that the victims were en route from Rivers State to Kano for the Eid-el-Fitr festivities when they encountered an assault by local vigilante groups. The attackers whipped the victims and subsequently burned them alive.
The Nigerian Police
announced
On March 29th, 14 individuals linked to the case were apprehended.
Rights violated
On Tuesday, the NHRC issued a statement urging both the Nigerian government and citizens to uphold the right to life and freedom of movement, following the killing of 16 individuals in an atrocity where these rights were blatantly disregarded.
He pointed out that the right to life is established in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Federal Republic Constitution
state
that the sanctity of life for every person should be upheld unless that individual has been condemned to death.
Article 6 of the
International Pact on Civil and Political Rights
goes on to advocate for the elimination of capital punishment.
Moreover, Mr. Ojukwu urged Nigerians to uphold the right to free movement as assured by the Constitution, Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The event has sparked nationwide anger, with leading figures and civil society organizations (CSOs) demanding a probe and ensuring the ones responsible face justice.
Amongst
They include former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Amnesty International, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
and
previous contenders for president, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
Edo govt. reacts
On Saturday, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki issued an immediate suspension for the commander of the Edo State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin, who is a retired police commissioner, due to this incident.
killing of hunters
in the state.
On Saturday, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhidor, issued an official statement indicating that the governor has suspended all unauthorized vigilante organizations active within the state.
Their suspensions came after reviewing the initial report of the horrific killings of several hunters in Uromi.
The Esan North East Local Government Area
On Thursday, Mt Ikhilor stated regarding the state.
Mr. Ikhilor stated again that the local vigilante group responsible for the horrific killings on March 27th had been acting unlawfully and was neither documented nor registered with the Edo State Security Corps. He further noted that their acts do not align with the goals of the corps.
During his visit to the families of the victims on Monday, Mr. Okpebholo promised to provide compensation for the relatives of the 16 killed hunters.
He made the
compensation pledge when
Alongside his counterpart from Kano State, Abba Yusuf, he visited the families of the deceased hunters in Torankawa, Kano State, to offer condolences.
He praised the residents of Kano State for staying composed despite the circumstances.
“I would like to praise the residents of Kano State and all of Northern Nigeria for refraining from taking justice into their own hands and avoiding retaliatory assaults,” he stated.
Mr Okpebholo
has assured
that those responsible will encounter the complete force of the legal system.
NHRC commends governor’s actions
Mr. Ojukwu encouraged the Edo State Government to keep investigating the issue and praised the governor for suspending the leader of the Edo State Security Corps as well as prohibiting unauthorized vigilante operations throughout the state.
He likewise expressed the commission’s dedication to overseeing the continuous probe.
From our side, we will keep an eye on the investigation process to make sure justice prevails. This should act as a warning to others.
The promotion and safeguarding of human rights are crucial for national progress. Let’s adopt a culture that respects these rights and basic freedoms to improve Nigeria.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
oleh admin | Apr 2, 2025 | europe, european union, international travel, passports and international travel, Travel
The United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system has now been extended to include travelers from Europe.
As of 2 April 2025, all travelers from Europe will require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) approval—or, for certain individuals who are not EU citizens—a visa—to enter the UK.
Starting from January 8, 2025, the system has become obligatory for travelers coming from the United States, Canada, and Australia. This followed its implementation in November for citizens of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Continue reading for information about the price, validity period, and how to obtain it.
What is the ETA?
The ETA supersedes the Single-Use Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) program, providing an affordable alternative with multiple entry privileges.
The UK government acknowledges that it is not
visa
And it does not allow entry into the UK. Instead, it grants a person permission to journey to the UK.
TheETAisnowrequiredforalleligiblenationalities.Youcanfindthelistofcountriesinfull.
here
.
What steps should I follow to apply for an ETA to visit the UK?
Many tourists will have the option to apply via a smartphone application and should anticipate receiving an email response with a decision within three business days.
Anyone who is traveling must submit an application, this includes infants and kids as well, however, you have the option to apply on behalf of others too.
The UK government states that their app is the fastest and most convenient method to apply for an ETA. You can
download the ETA app
from the official UK government site.
If downloading the app isn’t possible for you, another option is
apply online here
.
To finish the application, ensure you have ready the following items:
passport
The travel information you’ll use, along with an email address and either a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. There will be a series of suitability questions for you to answer. Entering your travel specifics isn’t required.
You have the option to remove the app once you’ve completed the application process. Your estimated time of arrival will be electronically connected to your passport, so you won’t need to present any additional documents upon entering the UK.
When should you apply for your Electronic Travel Authority?
The authorities state: “It is mandatory to apply for an ETA prior to your journey to the UK. You have permission to travel to the UK even as you await their decision.”
Given that the majority of applications receive a response within three days, it’s advisable to submit your application at least three days before traveling to the UK. However, you have the option to apply well in advance.
What is the cost of the UK ETA?
Similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used in the United States, a
fee
is linked to the application process.
The cost for an ETA is £10 (roughly €12 when this was written), which will increase to £16 (around €19) starting from April 9, 2025.
For how long is the estimated time of arrival (ETA) valid?
A Two-year period encompasses an ETA. There’s no need to reapply within this duration.
You have unlimited visits to the UK within the validity period, yet each stay must not exceed six months. Be sure to check this condition.
UK government website
For additional information regarding the permissions and restrictions associated with an ETA, please refer to the relevant guidelines.
Remember that you must submit an application for a new ETA if you obtain a new passport, since your ETA is associated with it.
Do I require a visa to visit the UK?
As stated earlier, the ETA is not a visa; however, it does provide authorization to enter the country.
All travelers who presently do not need a visa will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to their journey. This applies even to individuals who typically do not have to fill out any forms when visiting the UK. The same rule pertains to citizens from countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and more.
European
Citizens require an Electronic Travel Authorization even for brief visits or when transiting through the UK, for instance.
Visitors coming from nations without visa-exempt status with the UK must continue to apply for the appropriate visa along with an ETA.
If you fail to register before traveling, the government has warned that you might face a fine; however, they haven’t provided additional information regarding this policy.
Even if you’re not passing through border control, you still need to apply if you are transiting through the UK.
TheETA grants you permission to enter the UK for up to six months for purposes such as tourism, visiting relatives and friends, conducting business activities, or engaging in short-term studies.
Alternatively, you may obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) instead of a visa if you’re entering the UK for up to three months under the Creative Worker visa concession or if you’re visiting the UK for a permitted paid engagement. However, outside these specific circumstances, you cannot utilize an ETA to perform either compensated or uncompensated work for a British firm or operate independently within the country.
Who doesn’t require an estimated time of arrival?
Citizens of Britain and Ireland, individuals who possess a valid visa or authorization to reside, work, or study in the United Kingdom, travelers holding passports associated with British Overseas Territories, as well as residents of Ireland traveling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man do not require an ETA.
What is the reason behind the introduction of the ETA system in the UK?
The ETA is included as part of the UK’s strategy to
digitise
Its boundaries at UK airports by the conclusion of 2025.
The plan aims to decrease
queues at the border
aiding in accelerating lawful trips to the UK.
Facial recognition
The technology needed for such “contactless corridors” could be implemented according to The Times, a British newspaper. This would necessitate international travelers submitting personal and biometric information, including photographs of themselves.
faces
via the new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system prior to their flight.
