The changing landscape of the Douro River Valley
At the Quinta do Bonfim vineyards in the Douro, grapes are being picked for the production of port wine. (Armando Franca/Associated Press) Tourism to the Douro is growing as Portugal’s port wine region experiments with fine table wines and ultra-modern boutique hotels complement the area’s traditional estates. Most visitors are drawn to Portugal for its […]
Smartphone sales boom with over-55s
Getty Images Deloitte said the 55-75 age group represents 14 million people in the UK Smartphone sales are booming with older consumers in the UK, according to a study of the market. It indicates that 71% of 55-to-75 year olds now own an app-capable handset. The research also suggests that the age group has seen […]
How Frank Capra’s ‘over-sentimental’ film became a Christmas classic
Alamy Released in 1946, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life was derided as an “over-sentimental” Christmas yarn. In History looks at how its profound exploration of mental health, societal expectations and the healing power of community resonates today. In the eight decades since its release, It’s a Wonderful Life has become a sacrosanct part of […]
A user’s guide to Texas barbeque
Texas barbecue is an obsession in the Lone Star State. (Richard Cummins/LPI) Smokehouse culture is an obsession in the Lone Star State, whether you like your meat sliced thick onto butcher paper, doused with sauce or eaten straight out of the barbeque pit. Make no bones about it: Texas barbeque is an obsession. It is […]
FBI busts militia ‘plot’ to abduct Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer
“Hate groups heard the president’s words… as a rallying cry”: Mrs Whitmer calls out Trump The FBI says it has thwarted a plot to abduct and overthrow Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Mrs Whitmer has become a target for coronavirus sceptics after enacting strict measures that were overturned by a judge last week. Officials say […]
The dangerous pairing of salmon and wine
As wine production threatens the endangered coho salmon population in northern California, vineyard owners are taking steps to restore stream habitats. According to wine aficionados, pinot noir pairs quite well with salmon. But growing this grape — and several other varietals — is actually hurting the coho salmon population in California’s rivers and streams. “Like […]
Taylor Swift ‘tried to sue’ Microsoft over racist chatbot Tay
Getty Images Taylor Swift tried to sue Microsoft over a chatbot which posted racist messages on Twitter, the president of the tech company has revealed. Taylor’s lawyers made a move on Microsoft in 2016, according to a new biography by its boss Brad Smith. She was unhappy with the name of its chatbot Tay, meant […]
The oddest hotel jobs
The dog surfing instructor helps canines large and small ride human-size surf boards at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego. From tanning specialists to dog surfing instructors, hotels keep hiring for highly specialized and increasingly unusual staff positions. At the world’s top hotels, no job is too small if it adds to a […]
Netherlands expels two Russians after uncovering ‘espionage network’
Getty Images Dutch officials said the two alleged spies worked at the Russian embassy in The Hague The Netherlands has expelled two alleged Russian spies who were working in the country as diplomats, its intelligence service says. They are accused of targeting the high-tech sector and building a “substantial network of sources” in the industry. […]
Chinese tourists pave a new route across Europe
Lovers of William Shakespeare head to Verona, the Italian city that was the backdrop for the play Romeo and Juliet. (BBC) An increase in Chinese travellers to Europe puts off-the-beaten-path destinations, like Verona, Italy and Trier, Germany, on the map of a new Grand Tour. China now sends more tourists abroad than any other Asian […]