British Airways suspends Moscow routes as Russia bans all UK flights from its airspace

The incident occurred on a British Airways flight
 from San Jose to Heathrow.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

British Airways has suspended flights to Moscow after Russia has announced a ban on UK flights in retaliation to UK sanctions on its airline Aeroflot following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

British Airways has suspended all flights to Moscow and within Russian airspace, following the news that Russia is imposing a ban on all UK flights.

Russia has announced a ban on all UK planes, in a move that came as retaliation after the UK banned any flights from Russian carrier Aeroflot to and from the UK, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted last night: "I've signed restrictions prohibiting all scheduled #Russian airlines from entering UK airspace or touching down on British soil. Putin's heinous actions will not be ignored, and we will never tolerate those who put people’s lives in danger."

By Julie Delahaye.

Full story at Mirror.

Russia attacks Ukraine as defiant Putin warns US, NATO

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, DASHA LITVINOVA, YURAS KARMANAU and JIM HEINTZ

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.”

Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine’s military infrastructure. Ukrainians who had long braced for the prospect of an assault, while never knowing precisely when it would come, were urged to stay home and not to panic even as the country’s border guard agency reported an artillery barrage by Russian troops from neighboring Belarus.

By Associated Press.

Full story at OC Register.

Emirates unveils upgraded lounge at Dubai airport for unaccompanied minors

Emirates has unveiled a revamped 24-hour airport lounge
exclusive to its youngest solo flyers, featuring video games
and snacks, among other kid-friendly perks.

Emirates has unveiled a revamped 24-hour airport lounge exclusive to its youngest solo flyers, featuring video games and snacks, among other kid-friendly perks.

The newly-upgraded lounge was unveiled last week at Dubai International Airport, next door to the airline's First Class Lounge, and is designed specifically for unaccompanied minors.

The bright and contemporary facility also features free WI-FI, comfy new seating areas, PS4 gaming consoles, and washrooms designed with kids in mind.

By Katherine Scott.

Full story at Traveller.

NY man biking across America reveals 'random acts of kindness' in Arkansas

Bob Barnes tells Fox News Digital about the beauty of Arkansas — and how he was treated in Little Rock, his 27th capital visit.

A New York man who is cycling through all 50 U.S. states in the span of a year has discovered "peace and quiet" amid his journey through the southern state of Arkansas. 

But not just that — he's also appreciated random acts of kindness from his fellow Americans "in the middle of nowhere."

Bob Barnes, 52, of Syracuse, N.Y. has been sharing his latest travel experiences and discoveries with Fox News Digital, including his 27th capital visit: Little Rock, Arkansas.

By Ann W. Schmidt.

Full story at Fox News.

You Can Now Buy a Ticket for a Virgin Galactic Space Flight—for $450,000

It'll require $150,000 up front with $25,000 of that being non-refundable.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has finally opened up ticket sales to the public, reports CNBC. Not the general public, of course—just the public with deep enough pocket to afford the $450,000 a seat on one of the company’s suborbital space planes costs.

The tickets, which went on sale on Wednesday, aren’t so much a ticket on a specific space flight as they are reservation for a ticket on a future flight. If you click on the “Fly With Us” button on the Virgin Galactic website you’ll be able to request an application to make a spaceflight reservation.

By Bryan Hood.

Full story at Robb Report.

Disneyland drops mask requirements

A visitor to Disneyland get emotional as she walks up Main Street U.S.A. during the park’s reopening in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, April 30, 2021. The resort’s parks have been closed for 412 days due to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will no longer require vaccinated visitors to wear masks indoors starting on Thursday, Feb. 17.

Disneyland visitors will no longer need to wear COVID-19 face coverings on Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, but that doesn’t mean they can leave their masks at home just yet.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will no longer require vaccinated visitors to wear masks indoors starting on Thursday, Feb. 17. Unvaccinated visitors will still be required to wear masks indoors at the Anaheim theme parks.

By Brady Macdonald.

Full story at OC Register.

United States ‘do-not-travel’ list now includes more than half the world's destinations, including Ireland

Passengers at Dulles International Airport.
File Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

CDC has advised citizens to “avoid travel” to Ireland for several months.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has moved seven more countries to its highest-risk category for travel - a list that has now grown to include 134 destinations.

The CDC this week gave the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Oman, Libya, Japan, Israel, Cuba and Armenia a "Level 4″ warning, which means it is recommending that Americans avoid traveling there, even if vaccinated.

The CDC moved Ireland to its highest travel alert level due to concerns over Covid-19 last August.

By Annabelle Timsit.

Full story at Independent.