On the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks, one retired cabin crew member who worked for United Airlines until 2013 is marking the occasion in a very touching way.
Back in the UAE, Emirates has expanded its codeshare with United to better serve Mexico, just as it also extends its partnership with Greek carrier Aegean Airlines.
Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
September 11 marked by former flight attendant
A retired United Airlines cabin crew member is honouring the flight crews who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks in a unique way.
Paul Veneto, who worked for the US airline from 1997 to 2013, is pushing an airline cart between Newark Liberty International Airport to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania.
The campaign, called Paulie's Push, began in 2021, to mark the 20th anniversary.
In its first year, Veneto went between Boston Logan International Airport and the 9/11 National Memorial in New York. In 2022, he went from the Boston airport to the Pentagon National Memorial.
This year's push will take him over 300 miles, his longest stretch yet.
The power of retail tourism revealed
Last week, the World Travel & Tourism Council launched its report, Global Retail Tourism: Trends and Insights, which it said is "set to change the way we think about shopping tourism".
The sector has historically been under-researched, but in 2019 retail tourism was an industry worth about $178 billion. Since recovering post-pandemic, the report shows shopping is more than simply a leisure activity. "It shapes travel decisions, enhances destination appeal, boosts foreign exchange earnings and supports local brands and products," reads the announcement.
An emerging theme is called "retailtainment", fusing retail and entertainment, a trend the UAE is already famous for. The report also shows travellers are looking for authentic brands that encompass a city's culture, as well as luxurious brands and settings.
Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive, said: “Retail tourism is no longer just about buying souvenirs; it's a driving force behind the recovery of the travel and tourism sector, contributing significantly to revenue, job creation and overall economic growth.“
Emirates to celebrate Oktoberfest
Between Saturday and October 3, Emirates will be celebrating the German festival of Oktoberfest with Bavarian cuisine and a selection of in-flight entertainment from the country. This will be available on flights to and from Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt, as well as in select airport lounges.
A traditional starter, main course and dessert will be served for lunch and dinner in economy outbound, and on inbound and outbound flights in business and first class.
Dishes will include appetisers or obatzda, Emmental and cream cheese with radishes, a hard-boiled egg and cornichons. For main course, there's fleischpflanzerl, a minced beef steak with butter, veal jus, vegetables and sauerkraut. Classic German breads will also be served, followed by desserts such as apple strudel.
More than 300 films dubbed in German will be available, as well as 45 German movies and a collection of 13 Bud Spencer and Terence Hill films, classic spaghetti westerns that are beloved in Germany. There will also be 28 playlists and albums of German music to tune into.
A night train through Europe
Speaking of Germany, a sleeper service between Berlin and Paris is back by popular demand after a nine-year hiatus.
Austrian operator OBB announced that its Nightjet train will start running again from December, making three trips a week, before the full daily service is back in action by October next year.
Trains depart from Paris Gare de l'Est at 7.12pm, arriving in the German capital at 8.26am, while the Berlin to Paris leg runs between 8.18pm and 10.24am.
It also stops in Strasbourg, Mannheim, Erfurt and Halle, offering travellers another more affordable way to explore Europe, as prices are expected to start from about €50 for a bed.
Tickets go on sale in October.
Japan's rail price hike
Making train travel less affordable is Japan, where its rail pass price is going up this autumn.
The Japan Rail Pass is known as one of the most cost-effective ways to get around the country. A seven-day pass, for example, is increasing from 29,650 yen ($203) to 50,000 yen when bought from an authorised retailer, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. That's nearly a 70 per cent increase.
The 21-day pass, on the other hand, will increase from 60,450 yen to 100,000 yen. Tickets for children aged six to 11 are half price.
This price hike, which is the first in several years, will be in effect from October 1. From then, rail passes will only be available to buy online or through authorised retailers, while the option to get them from select ticket offices in Japan will be discontinued.
More flights open up from the UAE
Flydubai recently announced the launch of daily flights to Cairo's Sphinx International Airport, taking the total number of weekly trips to Egypt up to 18. The service will start on October 29 as demand grows for travel between the two cities.
Meanwhile, Emirates has extended two codeshare partnerships, making it easier for its customers to reach Mexico and Greece.
The airline expanded its agreement with United to include eight destinations in the Central American country - plus Mexico City, which Emirates already flies to. This means passengers can fly to Cancun, Cozumel, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, San Jose Del Cabo, Leon (Guanajuato) and Queretaro, connecting in either Chicago or Houston.
Tickets are available through the airline's website or preferred travel agencies for travel from Thursday.
Aegean Airlines has also expanded its partnership with Emirates, meaning Dubai passengers can stop over in Athens before taking advantage of the Greek carrier's connections to popular destinations in Greece and throughout Europe. Aegean customers can also access Emirates' flights between Athens and Dubai, as well as Athens and Newark with a stop in Dubai.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
The%20specs
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Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
BRIEF SCORES
England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)
Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1
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Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
The years Ramadan fell in May
