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.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
This is an info box
- info goes here
- and here
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
WISH
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The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
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Naga
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
