When a wildfire ignited near his First Nation community in northern Ontario, Hubert Wigwas chose not to evacuate. He installed sprinklers on his roof to douse drifting embers. He checked in on elders who had also decided to remain, and he filled the tanks of four boats by the lake in case a rapid escape became necessary. "This represents everything I’ve worked for over 58 years," said Wigwas, a councillor from Gull Bay First Nation. "I’m not prepared to walk away and watch it

Subscribe to Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter, for updates on global destinations, along with the latest in aviation, dining, and accommodation. In travel news this week: a fresh look at the world’s strongest passports, a culinary controversy involving edible ants, and a major step forward in ultra-long-haul flying. Project Sunrise While many travelers were enjoying a restful weekend, a newly delivered Airbus A350-1000ULR was touching down in Melbourne after completing its

Aliera Iheanacho had saved more than 100,000 United Airlines miles, imagining that one day she would redeem them for a luxurious first-class seat with a lie-flat bed. That aspiration is now on hold. This summer’s steep airfare, fueled by surging jet fuel costs, pushed the price of her May trip to China far beyond what she had planned. She briefly considered scrapping her visit to Disneyland in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Instead, Iheanacho drained her mileage account, spending over 60,000 miles for

A day at the beach should be relaxing, but there’s a simple way to prevent seagulls from swooping in and stealing your lunch. You’re basking in the sunshine, breathing in the salty air – unaware that a sharp-eyed opportunist is watching your every move. Out of nowhere, a bird drops from the sky, its wide wings briefly blocking the Sun. Amid frantic flapping and scattered chips, a hefty herring gull snatches your meal straight from your hands. Herring gulls – the classic “seagulls” found in

Just a few months can completely change the outlook. At the start of this year, Dubai was marking a historic milestone in tourism, reporting a record 19.59 million international visitors in 2025. That momentum has since faltered. Following the recent US and Israeli conflict with Iran, visitor numbers have fallen sharply. Hotel occupancy, once hovering around 80%, is now projected to dip to 10% in the months after the emirate experienced missile strikes in March. Authorities are now investing

ADDU CITY, Maldives (AP) — Recently, a group of Maldivian youth kayaked across a lagoon to protest land reclamation that was encroaching on protected mangrove wetlands within a UNESCO biosphere reserve. On a stretch of newly filled land, they spray-painted the word “ECOCIDE” to underscore what they see as irreversible environmental harm. The nonprofit Project ThimaaVeshi — meaning “self and surroundings” — represents a rising wave of young activists in the Indian Ocean archipelago. They are

Famous tourist capitals, iconic landmarks, and seaside resorts attract millions of visitors every year. However, heavy tourist traffic also creates opportunities for pickpockets and scammers. According to research carried out by the price comparison service Compare the Market, several cities stand out as places where travelers face a higher risk of theft. Paris, often called the City of Love, tops the list as the most risky destination for tourists due to frequent pickpocketing. The greatest

For generations, a typical visit to a British pub has meant waiting at the bar, trying to catch the bartender’s attention to order a pint, and then returning to stand with friends for a chat. This informal, bustling atmosphere has long defined the traditional pub experience. However, Westminster city council has been accused of attempting to change that custom. The council, which oversees one of Europe’s busiest nightlife areas – including Soho and the West End – has proposed discouraging what

In 1966, a Mexican-American teenage band released one of the era’s most unexpected smash singles and, in the process, helped lay the groundwork for garage rock, a style that would inspire musicians for generations. The oddest chart-topper of 1966 may not have been 96 Tears by ? and the Mysterians. That distinction could just as easily go to Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler’s solemn military anthem The Ballad of the Green Berets or the New Vaudeville Band’s theatrical throwback Winchester Cathedral.

Every summer, private gardens, garages and even apartment windows across Estonia transform into one-day cafés welcoming anyone who wanders by. Under a large canopy, strangers line up for lunch. Nearby, garden beds brim with cucumbers, strawberries, garlic and courgettes, while an apple tree casts shade over a table set with rye bread, homemade pickles and a steaming pot of seljanka, a rich tomato-based soup with ham and smoked sausage. Visitors choose from a modest printed menu, then carry

A new eruption has begun in Guatemala at the Fuego volcano, regarded as one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes on the planet. Streams of lava are once again pouring from its crater, while massive clouds of ash and smoke are rising high into the sky. Due to the sharp increase in volcanic activity, authorities have declared an orange alert across the country, the second-highest warning level. At the same time, evacuations have started for residents living in communities at the foot of the

The wildfires sweeping across Europe feel deeply personal to Professor Marta Yebra, even though she now lives thousands of kilometres away. Born in Spain and now based in Canberra, the bushfire specialist has devoted much of her career to helping Australia – one of the most fire-exposed nations on Earth – better confront its own destructive blazes. She leads the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, created after Australia’s catastrophic 2019–20 Black Summer fires, which burned an area

Four days ago, Youssef El Abbas believed he had found a way to recover the life he had lost seven years earlier. Reports were spreading that roughly 400 people had swum from Morocco to the nearby Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the North African coast, about 12 miles (19km) across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain. For the 44-year-old Moroccan father of four, it seemed like an unexpected opportunity to return to Spain, the country he had been forced to leave in 2019 after losing his job

NATO fighter jets were dispatched after a Russian missile briefly entered Polish airspace before crashing. The projectile crossed into Poland early on Thursday during a large-scale overnight assault by Russia on Ukraine involving ballistic missiles and drones. The attack killed at least eight civilians, including children, and left more than 50 others injured. Fears are growing that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could increasingly draw in neighbouring NATO members. Poland is among

In the 16th Century, a domestic servant named Elizabeth Barton rose to fame as a revered visionary – but when she challenged her king, she met a brutal fate. Was she a fraud, or a courageous heroine of Tudor England? In a quiet Kent village in 1525, Elizabeth Barton, then working as a household servant, was struck by a serious illness. During bouts of delirium, she reportedly recited passages of Scripture. Soon afterward, she began falling into trance-like seizures, delivering impassioned

BP has announced plans to sell its North Sea oil and gas operations, signalling the end of nearly 60 years of activity in the region. On Friday morning, the company confirmed it had begun a formal process to market its North Sea assets for a possible sale. The decision forms part of a broader strategy by BP’s new chief executive, Meg O’Neill, to streamline operations and reduce overall debt. O’Neill stated: “The North Sea continues to play a key role in the UK’s energy system. However, as we

The signs of climate change are evident in the extreme fire weather that fueled this week’s destructive wildfires in Spain and France, and have intensified Southern Europe’s fire seasons over the past eight years, according to two newly released studies. A rapid analysis published Thursday by scientists with World Weather Attribution found that human-driven climate change made the hot, dry conditions behind Spain’s record-breaking blaze 20 times more likely. In France, climate change doubled

When a lone worm was discovered deep within Earth’s crust, it set off an extraordinary chain of events that reshaped our understanding of how far life can extend beneath our feet. If you could bore through the soil below you and descend into the planet’s crust, discomfort would set in quickly. Sunlight would disappear, temperatures would rise, and pressure would steadily increase as you edged closer to the molten interior. Water trapped deep underground would seep through cracks in the rock. At

At first, Ukraine suggested purchasing Poland’s outdated MiG-29 fighter jets rather than exchanging them. Later, however, Kyiv proposed a different approach — swapping the aircraft for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This was stated by Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Paulina Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, according to PAP. She explained that Ukraine has already submitted a detailed proposal outlining which UAVs it is prepared to supply to Warsaw in return for the jets. The Polish side is currently