London's Stansted Airport hit by IT problems, delaying flights
The technical problems, which affected check-in, baggage and security operations, were later resolved, but flights continued to run behind schedule, the airport said in a statement.
Images posted on social media showed people queuing outside the airport. A reporter for television channel ITV, Anne Alexander, said on the X platform that she had missed her flight along with other travelers.
Stansted is the capital's third-biggest airport by passenger numbers.
London's Heathrow Airport, the busiest in Europe, shut down for almost a day in March due to a fire at an electricity substation. On Friday, Manchester Airport in northwest England was hit by a power supply problem which caused delays to arriving passengers at immigration control.
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Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Major European cities have little but tourism left
On the recent occasions I have returned to Paris, the city where I grew up, I have noticed a shift. There was once a cafe and bakery in the Trocadero, overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a place you could just walk into without a reservation to enjoy a coffee and one of the best croissants in town. Now, every time I pass by, there is a long queue of tourists waiting to be seated. A glance at the terrace shows that most are there to film themselves pouring hot chocolate and whipped cream to post on Snapchat or TikTok. This is textbook social media-driven overtourism. While it has certainly made the owners of the cafe happy, it has destroyed the fabric of the place. Indeed, this constant rush of visitors has made it nearly impossible for the locals to sit down and enjoy a coffee and a croissant or a pain au chocolat, like I did with my family and friends when I still lived in Paris. This has deprived many like myself of a 'madeleine be Proust' spot that reminds them of their younger years. I also imagine that the familiar faces we would once see regularly and create a bond with must have all but disappeared. In that instance, I would not mind and would be quite happy to see people from across the world enjoying a nice Parisian terrace; if it were not for the fact that no one was actually drinking their delicious hot chocolate or enjoying their pastries, but only filming the moment to share on their social media accounts. Parisians (which I consider myself to be even before being French) are a special breed and are quick to criticize. We are usually unimpressed by anything and have an indifferent attitude. Today, however, locals in most cities across Europe have started to feel resentment toward tourists, just as Parisians do. And we should not forget that tourists, too, have their frustrations with the City of Light. Moreover, these changes have a real impact on people's daily lives. It starts with real estate and rental prices going up due to Airbnb and other furnished rentals popping up. Small grocery stores then usually change their prices to reflect 'tourist prices.' Increased traffic and footfall increase inflation due to rising demand. These countries and areas may be dependent on tourism and might have to support some changes and sacrifice some local areas. France's tourism sector contributed a record-breaking €246 billion ($288 billion) in 2023, or 8.8 percent of gross domestic product. It accounts for nearly 2.9 million jobs. So, tourism is not just a romantic way for foreigners to make memorable moments, but an economic necessity. Paris' travel and tourism industry brought in nearly $36 billion in 2022 and accounts directly for 3.5 percent of the city's economy, along with much more indirectly through supporting activities. According to L'Institut Paris Region, tourism sustains more than 300,000 jobs. It is most certainly similar for other European hubs such as London, Rome and Barcelona, which, with time and the changes in their countries' economies, have also become highly reliant on tourism. Western capitals and landmark cities are among the world's most visited and have become addicted to tourist inflow. Today, locals in most cities across Europe have started to feel resentment toward tourists, just as Parisians do Khaled Abou Zahr It is now becoming clear that overreliance on tourism is a risk, while also being a witness to a changing world. One clear outcome is that it leaves cities vulnerable to many crises. While locals are complaining and protesting, it might not be their activities that stop the inflow of tourists, but a crisis such as a shift in travel trends, a pandemic like we witnessed just a few years ago or even a geopolitical shift with a lack of visas granted. Yet, many cities have shifted their economies to be exclusively specialized toward tourists. This makes them vulnerable. Can policymakers find a way to balance both locals' lives and tourism's economic importance? I have my doubts. I think that until the 'hot chocolate on social media' trend passes, I will still be deprived of my favorite pain au chocolat. The show 'Emily in Paris' encapsulates a specific aspect of this dynamic and the importance of tourism for jobs. The show has been so influential that, of those who said that pop culture inspired them to visit the city, 38 percent said it was 'Emily in Paris' that persuaded them. This impact even forced an intervention from the highest level of politics in France, when news emerged that the show might move its main character to Rome. Indeed, the reaction was swift and French President Emmanuel Macron publicly declared: 'We will fight hard. And we will ask them to remain in Paris.' Amid difficult times in the Middle East and rising global tensions, this is futile. However, I believe it tells a deeper story of a changing world and shifting balances of power. Global tourism is today also a barometer of how economic power is shifting. While, 50 years ago, the Western tourist represented the entire value of tourism, purchasing power is today increasingly dispersed across a broader set of nations. The rapid rise in outbound travel from countries such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico demonstrates how greater disposable incomes in these nations are reshaping the flows of international visitors. This diversification of global purchasing power can also be seen in global geopolitical dynamics, as nations capable of generating both capital flows and outbound tourists are gaining more diplomatic and political weight globally. Europe's increasing reliance on these markets for economic vitality has translated into a shift in their weight in terms of political affairs. It is something we are already witnessing. While decisions and political solutions used to mainly come from the West, now, just like the tourists, they come from across the world. There is undoubtedly a deficit in the power of the West, with the clear understanding that it was economic power that allowed it to finance military power and, hence, it had diplomatic power. This equation is now proving successful for countries in many regions and the West has been welcoming their citizens as tourists, while also becoming dependent on their markets. Tourism includes not only the travelers that I have mentioned, but also students, healthcare workers and more. Many critics of the last decade's policies have stated that Paris, London and other European cities now represent what the countries have become: a hotel, a museum and a restaurant. They are only capable of exploiting their past greatness, symbolized by grandiose architecture and a way of life, including culinary delights. And that's it. While I can imagine how a foreign dignitary would have felt arriving in London at the beginning of the last century and crossing The Mall, which projected power and advancements, today it is no longer impressive. But it amazes as a historical passage that attracts tourists and needs their money to fund its maintenance. In light of this, the exclusive focus on artificial intelligence by Western powers could look like a last effort to regain their advantage. But this time they are not alone. • Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, a space-focused investment platform. He is CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.
Al Arabiya
13-08-2025
- Al Arabiya
‘Not welcome': UK town protests JD Vance's family holiday
Dozens of activists and locals protested on Tuesday against a visit by US Vice President JD Vance to an idyllic rural region of southwest England, where he is on holiday with family. Around 60 people gathered for the demonstration in the town of Charlbury in the Cotswolds region, carrying signs including 'Go Home,' 'Not Welcome Party' and 'Sod Off.' UK police and US security detail dotted the usually quiet roads leading to the nearby hamlet where Vance was staying, blocking some roads and footpaths in the countryside region popular with tourists. 'The people of the Cotswolds are out here today telling JD Vance that he is not welcome here,' Jake Atkinson from the Stop Trump Coalition told AFP at the gathering. Co-organizer Atkinson cited US President Donald Trump's policies including on immigration and the war in Gaza for the local anger. He said the anti-Trump coalition would also turn out against the US president, who is due in the UK for a state visit in September. Earlier in the day, a black van bearing a meme image of Vance edited to look bald and bloated drove past the quaint cottages and winding streets of the town. 'We wanted to extend the same welcome that he extended to (Volodymyr) Zelensky from the White House,' said 75-year-old Charlbury resident Lou Johnson, referring to the cold reception Vance gave the Ukrainian leader during a press conference in Washington in February. Vance kicked off his British holiday last week by meeting UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who hosted the American politician in his country retreat in Chevening in Kent, southeast of London. Reports have also said Vance will later visit Scotland, where Trump spent five days at his golf resorts last month. Heightened security Residents said they were surprised by the heavy security around Dean, the village where Vance was staying. 'If somebody's just in the Cotswolds on holiday, you wouldn't imagine they'd need a 20-car motorcade and all the roads to the entire village,' said Phil Ball, 53, a local resident and cameraman. 'It's been disruptive and quite a surprise.' Victoria Dawson, an artist from nearby Witney, said locals were protesting 'against somebody who we think is immoral... somebody who is doing terrific damage around the world along with Trump.' 'Because JD Vance is here, suddenly roads are closed everywhere, there are police everywhere,' she added. 'It's not what we expect or accept.' Lou Johnson also complained that heightened security had been 'invading everywhere' in the rural area he has called home for 50 years. 'People think it's just a gentle little village but every now and then we do stand up for what we believe in,' said Johnson.
Arab News
12-08-2025
- Arab News
The Seine in Paris is open for swimming. Tourists and residents embrace it as temperatures soar
PARIS: Swimming in the Seine is an increasingly popular tourist attraction in the French capital — and a must-do for Parisians themselves. Thousands of people have enjoyed a dip in the river since three public bathing sites opened last month, the first in over a century. The swimming areas are expected to get even more crowded as a heatwave arrives in the region on Tuesday. Paris has been placed under 'high vigilance' by national weather service Meteo France, with temperatures up to 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) expected. At the Grenelle site in the west of Paris, visitors swim and sunbathe with a unique view of the Eiffel Tower, with small fishes darting near the surface. Water quality is tested daily to conform with European regulations. Swimming in the Seine had been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. The new bathing sites are possible following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.6 billion) cleanup that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year. 'Imagine that,' said Constanze Martens, a tourist from Mexico. 'Swimming with view of the Eiffel Tower and in pure natural water, clean, safe, and with all this lovely people too, you have every age here.' On Monday, the water temperature in the Seine was 22 degrees Celsius (71 Fahrenheit). 'It's quite warm, warmer than the sea, which was quite surprising, and is very pleasant,' said Elisabeth Lorin, from the Paris eastern suburb of Montreuil. Until the end of August, bathing sites are open for free at scheduled times to anyone 10 or older or 14 or older, depending on the location. Details are in the Paris city hall website, in English as well. Each swimmer must be equipped with a yellow buoy, attached to their waist, for safety reasons. There are changing rooms with lockers. The site welcomes between 800 and 1,200 visitors per day, with a limit of 200 at any one time, said the manager of the Grenelle site, Yann Forêt. Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan last week said over 40,000 people had swum at the sites since they opened on July 5. That's despite almost two weeks of closures largely due to rainy weather, which increases water pollution upstream. 'Right now, the water quality is excellent and we have optimal conditions with warm weather,' Rabadan told The Associated Press on Monday. He said the daily decision to open the sites depends on weather conditions and factors including water flow rate and any known pollution. Several lifeguards monitor the sites, occasionally using their whistles to remind swimmers not to jump or leave the perimeter. No major incident has been reported, Rabadan said. Marina Gicquel, a 22-year-old lifeguard at Grenelle, said the main difference from a swimming pool is the river current, along with the murky water. 'You can only see people's heads sticking out. That's why buoys are useful,' Gicquel said. 'And it's also quite deep. It's three to five meters (10 to 16 feet) deep, so people find no foothold.' Some visitors, like Australian Thurkka Jeyakumar, had been skeptical about swimming in the Seine, citing the river's murky color and bacteria issues. Unsafe levels of E. coli or other bacteria appear during prolonged periods of rain that overwhelm pipes, leading untreated wastewater to flow into the river instead of a treatment plant. Last year, some Olympic competitions were postponed for that reason. In the end, Jeyakumar gave it a try because she lost a bet. 'For the moment, I have to say that it was much nicer and cleaner than I thought it would be,' she said. 'So the bet worked out for the better!'
