
American citizens worldwide issued security alert after Iran strikes
This alert stems from the conflict between Israel and Iran, and America's recent involvement in a surprise attack on Iran's nuclear sites.
The advisory warns of potential disruptions to travel, periodic airspace closures across the Middle East, and demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests.
It follows a previous "do not travel" advisory for Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, citing a high potential for terrorist attacks and missile or drone strikes in Israel.
Americans traveling overseas are advised to check specific country guidance on travel.state.gov and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for important alerts.
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Finextra
2 hours ago
- Finextra
ADIB taps Visa for cross-border remittances
ADIB Visa partnership introduces Remit, a global real-time cross-border transfer service powered by Visa Direct. 0 With access to more than 11 billion cards, wallets, and accounts,this partnership is a significant step in ADIB's expansion of its digital reach and customer-centric innovation. The new service is designed to offer real-time, secure, and convenient cross-border money transfers, allowing individuals to send funds seamlessly for family support, personal needs, or other purposes. The partnership also reflects a broader push by Visa to expand real-time money movement across the Middle East. As consumers increasingly seek digital solutions for sending funds abroad, such collaborations help modernize the region's payments infrastructure and support greater financial inclusion. 'This partnership marks a major milestone for our customers and reaffirms our commitment to digital innovation and customer-centric financial services. We are excited to be the first bank globally to launch such a service, offering our customers a seamless and secure way to send money across the globe', said Amit Malhotra, Global Head of Consumer Banking, ADIB. 'The Middle East is home to one of the world's most active remittance corridors. In the UAE alone, consumers send money abroad an average of 1.4 times per month. This is a clear sign of the demand for fast, secure and reliable transfers. Through our partnership with ADIB, we're extending the reach of Visa Direct to make real-time money movement a reality for more people and businesses across the region,' said Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE. The launch comes amid rising demand for faster and more transparent cross-border transfers in the Gulf. According to Visa's 2025 remittance study, 95% of surveyed consumers in the UAE send money abroad at least once per year. Among those, 63% prefer to transfer funds digitally from physical locations, and nearly half cite safety, privacy and speed as key reasons for choosing digital methods. Nevertheless, key pain points remain. High fees and the need to travel to a physical location to complete a transfer are among the most frequently reported frustrations. Over a third of UAE consumers surveyed say they have encountered such issues when sending money. Visa Direct is designed to address these concerns. As Visa's global money movement network, it enables real-time, secure transfers to cards, wallets and accounts globally. One such solution, Visa+, allows businesses and financial institutions to send funds using a recipient's mobile number or email, rather than full account details. Already active across key GCC corridors, including the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, Visa+ helps streamline a range of use cases, from peer-to-peer payments to business disbursements and cross-border remittances. This ADIB Visa partnership demonstrates how collaboration can reshape global remittances—offering customers faster, safer, and smarter ways to send money abroad.


BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
20250801-why-these-new-tourist-taxes-may-be-a-good-thing (GIF Image, 1 × 1 pixels)
Getty Images A series of new climate-focused tourism fees could be the key to preserving some of the world's most beloved – and vulnerable – destinations. Your next holiday may be slightly more expensive than you expect – and it's not just because of inflation. Around the world, a growing number of destinations are introducing new climate-focused fees on hotel stays, ferry tickets and admission to national parks and other protected areas. But even though paying more for a trip may feel frustrating, these new fees could help ensure some of your favourite destinations survive in a world of rising seas, record heat and natural disasters. Getty Images The 2023 Maui wildfires were one of the deadliest climate-related natural disasters in US history (Credit: Getty Images) This May, Hawaii took an unprecedented step by enacting the US's first tourist tax explicitly tied to the climate crisis. Known as the Green Fee, the bill adds an additional 0.75% on top of existing accommodation taxes. The fee is expected to raise $100m annually for wildfire recovery, reef restoration and climate adaptation starting in 2026. In a press statement, Hawaii's Governor Josh Green said the new law addresses the growing impact that hosting 10 million tourists has on the islands and reflects a broader strategy to respond to the increasing frequency of natural disasters. "This isn't just a surcharge," Susan Fazekas, a Maui-based hiking guide and owner of Awapuhi Adventures told the BBC. "Visitors come here for the natural beauty – the waterfalls, reefs and rainforest trails – but those very resources are under strain. Asking them to contribute to the care of these places is not a burden; it's a chance to be part of their preservation. It's also a way to honour the kuleana (shared responsibility) we all share in protecting Hawaii's future." As climate-related disasters intensify, other destinations around the world are also rethinking how tourism revenue is collected and where it goes. Getty Images Greece implemented a Climate Crisis Resilience Fee in 2024 (Credit: Getty Images) In January 2024, Greece replaced its overnight stay tax with a Climate Crisis Resilience Fee. Travellers now pay €0.50 to €10 a night, depending on hotel class and season, with surcharges of up to €20 per person on popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini during peak periods. The government expects to raise €400m annually, which will be directed towards water infrastructure, disaster prevention and ecosystem restoration. Elsewhere, Bali introduced a 150,000 rupiah (£6.88) fee for international travellers in 2024 earmarked for environmental protection. The Maldives has imposed a nightly "Green Tax" since 2015, but doubled it in January 2025, with most hotels and resorts now charging $12 (€9) per person, per night. Revenues are channelled into a government-run fund for waste management and coastal resilience. In New Zealand, an International Visitor Levy – which was first introduced in 2019 but has nearly tripled to around NZD $100 (£45) in 2024 – supports conservation efforts and sustainable tourism infrastructure across the country. Compared to the overall cost of travel, these fees are often modest. But if they're managed well, their impact can be transformative. According to Dr Rachel Dodds, professor of tourism management at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada, what ultimately makes these fees meaningful is how clearly they are communicated to residents and visitors. "Tourism taxes can be an easy source of additional income to support sustainability or climate initiatives," she says. "But transparency is essential to ensure the money actually goes to those initiatives." Getty Images The Maldives publishes reports showing how its taxes are allocated to help coastal protection (Credit: Getty Images) At some destinations, that clarity already exists. The Maldives publishes monthly Green Fund reports detailing exactly how its revenue tax is allocated to coastal protection, waste treatment and water access. New Zealand's visitor levy is accompanied by annual performance reports showing which projects are selected, funded and completed, such as the redevelopment of Cathedral Cove's storm-damaged trails and major investments in the New Zealand Cycle Trails, including upgrades, maintenance and climate-resilient improvements. Hawaii is also working to improve clarity around how its new tourist taxes will be used. After the Lahaina fires, the state established a Climate Advisory Team (CAT), which published a 60-page report outlining potential resilience efforts and funding sources to ensure transparency and build public trust. "The comprehensive data that we were able to present, including surveys of residents statewide, actuarial analysis of the potential impacts of climate events and extensive engagement with experts across the climate resilience spectrum, resulted in a favourable public opinion of a climate fee," says CAT chair Chris Benjamin. Surveys suggest visitors are ready to contribute – if they know their money will be used well. According to 2024 Sustainable Travel Report, 75% of global travellers said they wanted to travel more sustainably in the year ahead, and 71% said they hoped to leave the places they visit better than how they found them. A separate 2023 study by Euromonitor found that nearly 80% of visitors were willing to pay at least 10% more for sustainable travel options. Maho Tanaka, a Japanese advertising professional based in Tokyo who hopes to visit Hawaii in the next year, says she supports the state's new climate fee. "It depends on how much it is," she says. "If it were too expensive, especially with the weak yen, it might discourage me. But if it's just 0.75%, like an extra $3 on a $400 stay, then that seems fine." While Tanaka doesn't actively track how such fees are used, she says their overall purpose matters. "If it's going toward protecting Hawaii's beaches and forests, then that's a good thing… It feels [like] a contribution to something important. Hawaii is like one big national park. It makes sense to support it." Alamy Surveys suggest most travellers are willing to pay climate-related visitor taxes if their uses are clearly communicated (Credit: Alamy) Zixuan Liu, a Chinese national, recently spent three weeks travelling around Greece after the nation implemented its new Climate Crisis Resilience Fee and echoes the survey's findings: "I did notice the charge and thought it was a bit expensive, but I wasn't sure how it was being used. If that were made clearer, I'd actually be happy to pay more – as long as the money is going to the right place." Still, experts warn that sustainability shouldn't be treated as an add-on. "We need to bake sustainability into our operations, services and offerings so that travellers choose it by default," says Christopher Imbsen, Vice President of Research and Sustainability at the World Travel & Tourism Council. "It shouldn't be a premium or an added layer of complexity. If sustainability is embedded from the start, people won't need to consciously choose it – it will simply be the obvious choice." At its core, the rise of climate-linked tourist taxes isn't just about funding; it's about rewriting the social contract of travel. For decades, tourism has largely operated as an extractive economy: visitors arrive, consume and leave. But in a climate-compromised world, that model is no longer sustainable. These modest fees reflect something bigger: a transition from tourism as consumption to tourism as collaboration. We're moving towards a future that invites travellers to go beyond merely visiting and encourages them to take part in the shared responsibility of preservation. Getty Images Travellers are now being encouraged to participate in preservation efforts like never before (Credit: Getty Images) Fazekas says responsible tourism in Hawaii means "slowing down" – fewer crowds, more meaningful experiences and deeper respect for the local culture and environment. To her, it's also about educating visitors, reducing impact and creating opportunities to give back, "not just take a photo and leave". So yes, your next trip may be a little more expensive. But that extra $10 or €20 may just help preserve these destinations for the generations that follow. For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Gold Rush era mining town that hosts murky elite retreat transforms into stunning mountain getaway
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