Riots have erupted throughout England and Northern Ireland over the past week in the wake of the killing of three children in a small town near Liverpool.A 17-year-old attacked the children with a knife while they attended a dance class. In addition to three dead, eight other kids were wounded in the incident, per media reports.While the alleged perpetrator was born and raised in Britain, rumors had initially circulated on social media that the individual was an immigrant. Since then, more than 400 people have been arrested in connection with violent riots taking place and the U.K.’s National Police Chiefs’ Council has implemented a “united and robust policing response” throughout the country.The riots in the country started in Southport, England, but have since spread to Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Belfast, London, and other locations. Media reports have also indicated that the protestors have expressed anti-immigration and Islamophobic sentiments during the riots. Amid these protests, the media has released images of police in riot gear and backdrops of smoke and fire. And now, a flurry of countries have begun issuing travel advisories for the U.K. In an update issued as of August 5, Australia is recommending that its citizens “exercise a high degree of caution” when traveling to the United Kingdom. “Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence,” says the Australia advisory. “Monitor the media for information and updates. Follow the instructions of local authorities.” Additionally, the UAE, Nigeria, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia have issued new U.K. travel warnings amid the spate of violence.While the United States has not yet released its own updated advisory for the U.K., American travelers may naturally be wondering whether it’s safe to visit at the moment.
The 9 most sensational places to visit in Malaysia
07.08.2024 - 20:28 / lonelyplanet.com
Aug 7, 2024 • 8 min read
Split across two different land masses, Malaysia instantly poses a dilemma. Do you visit Peninsular Malaysia, which borders Thailand to the north and Singapore down south? Or do you head across the South China Sea to Borneo – a jungly island shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and the Kingdom of Brunei?
Good news: both sides of Malaysia have soft sandy beaches and snorkel-worthy coves, though Malaysian Borneo has superior access to marine life. Borneo is also the best pick for jungle trekking, though you can explore national parks and hilly hiking terrain across Peninsular Malaysia, too – like Taman Negara and the Cameron Highlands. Many parks and beauty spots are almost on top of the cities, making Peninsular Malaysia an excellent choice for families who want to spot hornbills by day, but bed down in modern comfort.
Peninsular Malaysia is also where you'll find the buzz. Gastronomes, shoppers and museum hounds can enjoy their fill in cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, food-forward Penang and cultural jigsaw Malacca (also known as Melaka). Plot your own path with a little help from our list of the best places to go in Malaysia.
If you have grand ambitions but limited time, head to Kuala Lumpur. Parts of KL feel like a quintessential capital city, with chic shopping malls (like Pavilion KL and Suria KLCC), a competitive cocktail scene and a sci-fi skyline – the Petronas Towers rise up like twin rockets, while Menara KL glows like a futuristic lighthouse (head to the 300m-high (984ft) sky deck for an expansive view). But KL offers more than fast-paced urban commotion.
They city's swagger comes accompanied by nature and history, courtesy of time-worn temples, kopitiam (traditional coffee houses), and rainforests almost side by side with high-rise buildings. Places of worship like the scarlet multi-story Thean Hou Temple and ornate Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad inspire contemplation and wonder.
If you're looking for places to visit in Malaysia in three days, KL has day-trip potential, too. Listen to birdsong at KL Forest Eco Park, picnic by a waterfall at the Forest Research Institute, and less than an hour's drive away is Mah Meri Cultural Village, where you can immerse yourself in indigenous Orang Asli art and history.
Remarkably rocky, tremendously old and a theater for eye-popping natural spectacles, Gunung Mulu is arguably Malaysia's best national park. Between Gunung Mulu (2376m/7795ft) and Gunung Api (1710m/5610ft) are old-growth forests, limestone pinnacles and deep caves, home to millions of bats that take flight every twilight – watch the drama unfold at Deer Cave.
Where to begin exploring? DIY experiences include the Mulu canopy walk (a suspended ladder through the treetops), an easy
Everyone from Starbucks to Chinese giants wants in on the global boba tea craze. Meet the family who started it all.
Once a novelty beverage, boba or bubble tea has moved into the mainstream.
My First Travels Were Through Stories My Grandmother Told
It was eight in the morning, and the prickly July humidity had already seeped through my skin as I hopped out of the cab in Singapore’s Little India. Greeted by the bustle of vendors setting up, I was transported back to my childhood, to days spent wandering the neighborhood with my grandmother. The aroma of fresh coriander from vibrant spice stalls spurred memories of her tangy coconut prawn curry. The musky fragrance of jasmine adorning colorful flower stalls reminded me of how she’d woven them into my braids. She never would again.
Solo female travel: the best destinations to visit in Asia
Aug 7, 2024 • 8 min read
I moved to Thailand for graduate school. The free degree I earned isn't recognized in the US, but it inspired my side business.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charissa Enget, a content creator and cybersecurity architect who gained her graduate degree in Thailand. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Booking.com's Insights on Catering to The New Indian Traveler
In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Booking.com’s Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia, Santosh Kumar, and Skift Asia Editor, Peden Doma Bhutia, dive into the latest trends, insights, and initiatives in the travel industry. They focus on inclusivity and the evolving behaviors of Indian travelers.
I flew on a new all-business-class airline from Italy to the Maldives. It's worth splurging for, even with the odd fuel stop.
I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of the airline Beond.
Ferrari seats, headphones by Beats and BeOnd: Inside the Maldives all business class airline
Offering business class flights at a fraction of the cost, this airline says it’s creating a new niche in luxury travel.
World’s most powerful passport in 2024 goes to Singapore - but 4 European countries are close behind
Singapore has been recrowned as the country with the world’s most powerful passport in 2024.
The ultimate guide to tipping in Asia
Aug 5, 2024 • 6 min read
I Visited This Idyllic Beachfront Mexican Hotel to Learn What Conrad's 'Year of the Resort' Was All About
On a particularly relaxed Friday in August, I spent the morning with my two best friends in the Tulum jungle, splashing around what I'm quite sure is the world's most entertaining pool. We were at the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya Resort's spa pool, which comes tricked out with mystery buttons around the perimeter, each setting off a variety of jets, waterfalls, and even a surge of bubbles bursting out from a lounger submerged a foot below the water's surface.
One of the world's top airlines will stop serving economy passengers in-flight instant noodles over fears of burns due to rising turbulence
Korean Air is changing its in-flight snack service due to increased turbulence.