Travel

Q&A: Dr. Nirmal Jivan Shah on Assomption Island, Qatar, and the State of Conservation in the Seychelles

As controversy brews over a Qatari-backed development on Seychelles’ remote Assomption Island, questions are being raised about environmental transparency, geopolitical influence, and the future of conservation. I reached out to Dr. Nirmal Jivan Shah, CEO of Nature Seychelles, for his unfiltered perspective.

Seychelles’ Assomption Island Sold to Qatar: An Alleged $50M Deal Sparks Uproar Over Heroin, Corruption, and a Vanishing Paradise

A remote coral island in the Indian Ocean is quietly being transformed into a luxury resort and international airstrip for Qatari royalty—allegedly sold off in a secretive $50 million deal to Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan, without public consent or environmental oversight.

Seychelles’ UNESCO island under threat from luxury development and Qatari-linked terror funds

The fate of Assomption Island may determine not just the survival of its biodiversity, but the integrity of Seychelles’ commitment to sustainable development in the face of land grabs and neo-colonialism by powerful foreign interests.

Six Dead in Red Sea Tourist Submarine Disaster, Raising Concerns Over Egypt’s Maritime Safety

Six people have died after a tourist submarine operated by Sindbad sank in the Red Sea near Hurghada, Egypt, at approximately 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on March 27. The cause of the sinking remains unclear, but the incident has reignited concerns over Egypt’s lax maritime safety standards, shoddy equipment, and lack of effective emergency response measures.

Philippe Starck’s Floating Mansion: The Hollow Spectacle of Modern Architecture

The modern architectural world has become so absurd, so self-referential, that we are now finding whimsy in a grotesque pastiche of a mansion hoisted onto a soulless skyscraper—rather than restoring the very real, crumbling mansions that lie abandoned in the European countryside. This is art eating itself, an ouroboros of design where irony and spectacle matter more than substance or authenticity.

Sustainable Travel Planning: How RoutePerfect Supports Eco-Conscious Journeys

Discover how RoutePerfect's eco-certified partners and carbon-smart planning tools can help you travel responsibly. Create greener journeys today! Call now!

The Battle Against Over-Tourism: How Destinations Are Fighting Back

While governments enforce new regulations, travelers also play a key role in ensuring sustainability. Opting for eco-volunteering experiences and choosing eco-friendly accommodations provide a more meaningful connection to a destination while actively contributing to its preservation.

Red Sea Islands: Luxury Tourism & Sustainability – The Truth Behind the Eco Promise

The Red Sea Project positions itself as a model for sustainable luxury tourism, implementing renewable energy solutions, habitat restoration, and eco-friendly construction practices. Despite these efforts, the scale of development in previously untouched natural areas has led to criticisms regarding the potential environmental impact. Balancing the demands of high-end tourism with the need to protect and preserve delicate ecosystems remains a complex challenge.

Shebara Resort: The Future of Luxury Travel in Saudi Arabia

By day, you can relax in your private infinity pool, gaze at the marine life below, or step straight from your villa into the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. The resort is completely off-grid, powered by renewable energy, meaning you can enjoy modern luxuries with a clear conscience.

The Secrets of Longevity in Ikaria, Greece

Ikarians drink herbal teas every day, made from plants grown around their homes and in the wild

Visit the Clore Garden of Science in Rehovot for simple, sustainable outdoor fun

This area features a sustainable village with bridges, composting systems, and a living treehouse, educating visitors about sustainability and climate change.

Why we love Cotopaxi’s colorful backpacks

The Allpa 42L is made from 100% recycled polyester and repurposed nylon, reducing waste and keeping materials out of landfills. The company also focuses on fair labor practices by partnering with factories that ensure safe working conditions and fair wages for workers.

Al Faya Lodge: Sustainable Architecture Meets Desert Serenity

The lodge's design takes the region's extreme climate into careful consideration. Sharjah’s desert environment presents a unique set of challenges, from searing heat and prolonged sun exposure in the summer to chilly nighttime temperatures. Jonathan Ashmore, Anarchitect’s founder, emphasized that any design in such an environment must account for these factors.

10 luxury desert resorts the UAE

The 10 best sustainable, desert retreats in the UAE with varying price points.

Travel by Valentine’s train on 5 romantic itineraries around Norway and Sweden

Slow, romantic train itineraries around Norway for Valentine's Day.

Hot this week

Was the Flydubai cockpit emergency an attempted terror attack — or a pilot in crisis?

What happened inside the cockpit of flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday morning is still under investigation, but the story has become considerably more disturbing since the first reports of a “fight between pilots.”

Two People, One Dataset, and a Disagreement Nobody Can Settle

Two people can look at the same sustainability dashboard and reach different conclusions. The problem is not necessarily the data, but whether anyone can trace how the number was produced.

Arabia Suburbia was adapted from the American blueprint for suburban living

Walk through almost any Saudi city today and one form dominates residential streets: the detached villa, sitting on its own plot, separated from its neighbors, usually surrounded by a wall and reached by car. It feels thoroughly Saudi. But much of the architectural DNA of the modern Saudi house comes from American suburbia.

Leen Kawas and the Work of Carrying Promising Medicines Forward

EIT Pharma CEO Leen Kawas is advancing lonafarnib for chronic hepatitis D, showing how stalled late-stage drug programs can be revived and carried toward regulatory review.

The Financial Impact of Meta Glasses on Europe’s Eyewear Market

Smart glasses are changing the economics of eyewear by turning conventional frames into higher-priced technology products. What used to be mainly a sale built around frame design, lenses, prescription needs and brand preference is now also a sale built around cameras, audio, AI features, app support and connected-device setup.

Topics

Was the Flydubai cockpit emergency an attempted terror attack — or a pilot in crisis?

What happened inside the cockpit of flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday morning is still under investigation, but the story has become considerably more disturbing since the first reports of a “fight between pilots.”

Two People, One Dataset, and a Disagreement Nobody Can Settle

Two people can look at the same sustainability dashboard and reach different conclusions. The problem is not necessarily the data, but whether anyone can trace how the number was produced.

Arabia Suburbia was adapted from the American blueprint for suburban living

Walk through almost any Saudi city today and one form dominates residential streets: the detached villa, sitting on its own plot, separated from its neighbors, usually surrounded by a wall and reached by car. It feels thoroughly Saudi. But much of the architectural DNA of the modern Saudi house comes from American suburbia.

Leen Kawas and the Work of Carrying Promising Medicines Forward

EIT Pharma CEO Leen Kawas is advancing lonafarnib for chronic hepatitis D, showing how stalled late-stage drug programs can be revived and carried toward regulatory review.

The Financial Impact of Meta Glasses on Europe’s Eyewear Market

Smart glasses are changing the economics of eyewear by turning conventional frames into higher-priced technology products. What used to be mainly a sale built around frame design, lenses, prescription needs and brand preference is now also a sale built around cameras, audio, AI features, app support and connected-device setup.

Why Pest Control Has to Be Local: Mira Home on How Climate and Geography Change Pest Pressure Across America

Why pest control needs to adapt to local climate, moisture, building patterns and pest pressure rather than rely on one national treatment plan.

Brad Pitt walked the red carpet with rescue dogs. Why isn’t rescue just the default?

The film itself is about a Special Forces officer, played by Pitt, stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog Odin after a plane crash. Odin is played by Uber, a highly trained German shepherd from a military and law-enforcement breeding line.

Beavers are moving into the Arctic, and they are rewiring the tundra

“Beavers effectively write their history into the landscape with each shrub they cut and every pond they create by damming streams,” said lead author Dr Georgia Hole, who carried out the research at Anglia Ruskin University and is now based at Durham University.
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