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Travel Safety

A Sudanese soldier mans a machine gun. Civil war makes a Sudan risky for travellers. Photo: AFP
Travel news and advice

The riskiest places to travel in 2025 because of war, crime and more

From Israel to Myanmar, Pakistan and Kenya, the countries travellers should avoid, according to Global Guardian’s 2025 Global Risk Map.

Wellness

Explainer | Methanol poisoning, its symptoms and why it is so deadly

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest man over theft of HK$4,300 on board flight from Malaysia

Hong Kong transport

Cathay Pacific flight from New York to Hong Kong diverted due to geomagnetic storm

But a meteorological expert plays down concerns about the weather event’s impact over Hong Kong, citing the city’s low latitude.

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Planes are dependent on a global navigation satellite system which can be affected by weather conditions, an expert says. Photo: May Tse
Asia travel

Death by shark? It happens way less often than you think, so calm down

Some people have a queasy feeling when swimming – and others will not even go into the sea. Is Jaws to blame for our fear of sharks?

Thailand

5 Hong Kong tourists believed dead in Thailand plane crash

No survivors were found at the site where the aircraft went down with nine people on board, including two pilots.

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Trending in China

China passenger turfed off plane after argument about storage of luxury handbag

A woman on a domestic flight in China was so attached to her US$3,000 Louis Vuitton bag that she would not let it out of her sight, creating a chain of disruptions.

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A woman airline passenger in China was kicked off an aircraft because she refused to store her luxury bag under the seat. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
Cathay Pacific

Editorial | At last, a refreshing new air safety video, from Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific

Cathay’s latest production features the usual instructions against a colourful backdrop of the things that make Hong Kong great.

Hong Kong weather

Super Typhoon Gaemi may trigger No 1 standby signal in Hong Kong

Observatory says Gaemi expected to stay 600km from city as it moves across Taiwan and hits Fujian province on Thursday.

Accidents and personal safety

Toilet door comes off during 16-hour Cathay flight from Hong Kong to New York

Photographs of incident show female flight attendant seated in cabin crew seat with her hand holding detached door.

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Images posted online showing a Cathay Pacific staff member holding the door. Photo: Threads
Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong’s Cathay probes video showing staff member throwing luggage

Video shows worker wearing Cathay Pacific vest repeatedly throwing suitcases from staircase.

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A sceeengrab from the video circulating online that prompted the investigation. Photo: SCMP
Trending in China

Rookie China flier sparks evacuation after mistaking emergency exit for toilet

A first-time flier in China caused panic and chaos on a flight when she opened an emergency exit she thought was a toilet door.

Aviation accidents

Boeing CEO apologises to families of those who died in 737 Max crashes

Dave Calhoun also acknowledged the planemaker’s shortcomings after a mid-air blowout in January, as he faced questions from US lawmakers.

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Singapore

Explainer | Severe flight turbulence and how to stay safe - a visual explainer

A visual explainer of what causes severe turbulence, which of the world’s flight paths were the most affected in 2023 and how travellers can stay safe.

Asia travel

Terrorist killing of tourists threatens future of Afghanistan tourism

Tourism in Afghanistan will be over if there is another attack soon, a tour agent says after terrorists kill Spanish tourists. Another says terror threat has always been there yet visitors have still come.

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Thai tourists visit the Kart-e-Sakhi Shrine in Kabul, Afghanistan, in March 2024. The killing by terrorists of three Spanish tourists in an attack on a market threatens the future of the country’s tourism industry. Photo: AFP
Japan

Drunk Japan Airlines pilot causes flight cancellation after US police warning

The airline’s decision to cancel the flight stemmed from the need to assess the captain’s physical and mental well-being, according to reports.

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Indonesia

Deadly train crash in Indonesia

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Hong Kong weather

Rain and thunder continue to lash Hong Kong despite passage of storm Koinu

Public advised to remain vigilant amid showers, even after forecaster lifted all tropical cyclone signals on Tuesday afternoon.

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Hong Kong Observatory expects to lower the typhoon warning from No 8 to No 3 at 11.40am. Photo: Sam Tsang
Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Hong Kong consumer watchdog warns travellers against high data roaming charges

It also finds terms and conditions for mishandled baggage across airlines to be inconsistent.

The Philippines

Philippine US$3 billion airport project has 3 more potential bidders

India’s GMR Group joins the San Miguel corporation and a Manila consortium in recent bids to upgrade the ageing Ninoy Aquino Airport, ranked among the world’s worst.

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Middle East

Lebanon seeks to reassure Gulf, Germany, UK after travel warnings amid violence

Lebanon’s caretaker premier Najib Mikati said on Saturday there was no cause for ‘concern or panic’ about his country’s security situation. At least 13 people have been killed in fighting in Ain el-Hilweh between mainstream faction Fatah and hardline Islamists.

Lebanese soldiers stand guard at the entrance of Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp during clashes between supporters of the Fatah movement and rival groups, in Sidon, Lebanon on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Hong Kong tourism

Explainer | Holiday hell? Travel advice for Hongkongers stranded abroad

Industry insiders dish advice on what to expect from flight cancellations and the usefulness of insurance.

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The airport is filled with people waiting for flights following cancellations caused by a typhoon hitting Okinawa in Japan. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

Russia tells stranded Crimea tourists to drive home via occupied Ukraine

After an attack on the bridge linking the peninsula to Russia, holidaymakers were asked to take an alternative 400km (250-mile) route that could take them through areas seriously affected by fighting.

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Hong Kong

Letters | Cathay emergency evacuation: penalise those who took their bags

Readers discuss the importance of following safety protocols during an emergency, the MTR’s handling of passenger anxiety during unexpected events, and the dangers of deep-sea expeditions.

New Zealand

Air New Zealand ranked best airline in the world; Singapore tops first-class

A study cited the airline’s new Skynest economy beds and its safety record as two reasons for the top ranking.

Air New Zealand came out number one in many key areas in a recent study. Photo: Getty
India

Yet again, a drunk passenger has peed on a fellow traveller on a US-India flight

It’s the third time in recent months that a passenger has been accused of urinating on or near someone else on a flight from New York to New Delhi. In all cases, they were reported to be drunk.

An American Airlines plane takes off from a US airport. This marks the third time since November 2022 that a passenger travelling from New York to New Delhi has been accused of urinating on or near other passengers, and the second time it has happened specifically on American Airlines flight 292. Photo: Reuters
Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Far from the madding crowd: Europeans’ post-Covid holiday criteria

Change linked to habits developed in three years of Coronavirus pandemic when going off the beaten track was a priority, travel experts say.

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Italy

Jogger killed by bear at tourist hotspot in Italy

The man’s body was found near a forest path in the Val di Sole valley, which is popular with hikers and tourists. Sightings of bears have recently increased.

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Travel Safety
Articles on safe travel for millennials, including trip planning, vaccinations, local laws and customs, travel security, travel health and travel updates.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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