Affairs
Eased sanctions, friendly talks with Israel and new Assad-free bank notes – Syria is readying to join the Western economy
For five decades, Syrians were reminded of their despotic rulers every time they reached into their wallets. The faces of Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, adorned banknotes, which, since the currency crashed under…
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What the Crans-Montana fire means for Switzerland, a country that prides itself on alpine life, hospitality and safety
Tyler Brûlé comments from St Moritz on the mood in Switzerland and reaction to the disaster from the press, public and presidency.
Opinion
The Gulf is finally launching a unified tourist visa – but why did it take this long?
2 min read
Why the mayor of Cape Town welcomes tourists in his city despite anti-visitor trends
We need more tourists. Other cities might be facing challenges related to the industry but we’re here with open arms. Tourism does three things. It stimulates construction, injects foreign revenue into a city and…
Philippine tourism is about to get a new identity under secretary Christina Garcia Frasco
Lawyer-turned-mayor Christina Garcia Frasco stepped onto the national stage in 2022 when incoming Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos Jr asked her to be his tourism minister. Tasked with steering the archipelago out of the pandemic…
Is New York’s scaffolding getting a glow-up? Expectations are low – but rising
Scaffolding, or sidewalk sheds if you want to get technical, is as much a part New York’s fabric as flooded subways or breakfast bagels. But does it have to be so ugly and ubiquitous?
Japan’s 10 buzzwords of 2025 reveal a snapshot of a country in flux
From climate anxiety to soaring rice prices and a momentous leadership transition, Japan’s annual buzzwords offer a window into how the country faced 2025’s changes and challenges.
Asia 2026 forecast: Vietnam, Malaysia and China lead the way
Here in Thailand, 2026 promises to begin with a bang. The country’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, who is currently in charge of a caretaker government, has called early elections even earlier than expected and…
A letter from Magdeburg to Sydney: terror, grief and the road to justice
Writing in the wake of a terror rampage in Sydney, and one year after a deadly car attack shattered Magdeburg’s Christmas market, Blake Matich reflects on grief, resilience and how communities restore order.
As Trump’s threats bring war closer with Venezuela, what is the mood on the ground in its cities?
For struggling Venezuelans, the idea of a US invasion looms large. But for many, US boots on the ground are the least of their worries.
