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South African travellers are advised to postpone trips to Mozambique as protests and safety concerns intensify.
As escalating protests continue in Mozambique, the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (Asata) has warned travellers planning trips to the country.
Speaking to The Citizen, Asata CEO Otto De Vries confirmed that most border posts and all airports remain operational, and flights run as scheduled.
While all flights and the Kosi Bay border operate, Flight Centre Travel Group’s Customer Experience Leader Lynette Machiri cautioned travellers against travelling to Mozambique.
“Unless there is an absolute need for it, consider travelling at a later time.
“The latest travel advisories flag a high risk of protests and demonstrations across Mozambique, and we know that there is an opposition march planned in Maputo [on Thursday]. Avoid hotspots, avoid being out on the roads, stay away from crowds or gatherings, keep an eye on local media, and adhere to travel advisories,” she said.
Earlier this week, the Border Management Authority (BMA) temporally closed the Lebombo port of entry as a security measure for South Africans.
ALSO READ: Lebombo border closed amid violent protests in Mozambique [VIDEO]
Travellers should consider postponing trips
De Vries said Asata is actively monitoring developments and the impact of the protests on travel to ensure the safety of all travellers.
“We’re particularly concerned about the high risk of protests and demonstrations across Mozambique, especially in major cities like Maputo where opposition marches are taking place.”
De Vries added that given the unpredictable nature of the current circumstances, travellers should consider postponing trips until the situation stabilises unless it is essential.
“For those with immediate travel plans to Mozambique, we strongly recommend consulting with their Asata-accredited travel advisor to assess the situation and discuss potential alternatives,” he said.
According to Southern Africa’s freight news, protests are ‘extremely’ volatile in areas such as Maputo; Ressano Garcia, a small area in the Maputo province, and the N4 Maputo Corridor between South Africa and Mozambique with about 630km distance.
ALSO READ: Analyst calls SA to action on Mozambique stability amid Lebombo border closure
Impact on Mozambique’s tourism
Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) noted that key tourism destinations in Mozambique remain unaffected by the unrest in urban areas.
Satsa CEO David Frost said it is a challenging time for their regional tourism partners, urging travellers to postpone rather than cancel as it could have a dire impact on Mozambique’s tourism industry.
“We recommend that people avoid travel over the next two days – and that visitors and operators remain flexible, rescheduling trips wherever possible,” he added.
Opposition leaders suggested that the week-long protest would culminate in a mass demonstration in Maputo on Thursday.
“While we hope things remain calm, it’s difficult to predict. So, the message to travellers remains: stay vigilant, stay safe and follow the advice of your accommodation providers, operators and travel partners in Mozambique,” Frost concluded.
NOW READ: SA authorities on high alert after violent protests in Mozambique
Newsflash: The Bank of England has cut UK interest rates for a second time this year.As City experts had predicted (see opening post), the Bank’s monetary policy committee have voted to lower Bank Rate by a quarter of one percentage points, down from 5% to 4.75%.It’s the second cut this year, following August’s reduction, and comes after inflation fell below its 2% target in September.The Bank will have made the decision having assessed last week’s UK government budget and Donald Trump’s election as US president.Q: How exposed is the UK economy to a potential global trade war? As we export more services than goods, are we more immune?Andrew Bailey says the UK is an open economy, adding that he won’t make any presumptions or speculate about what may happen.
We will have to watch this very closely.
Bailey adds that there will be a “very open dialogue” between the UK and US governments.Q: How does the Bank of England assess the risk of trade protectionism from the US election result?Governor Andrew Bailey says the Bank always responds to announced policies.He explains that the Bank works with all US administrations – mainly on financial stability, rather than monetary policy issues, adding:
We look forward to working with the new administration. We worked with the previous Trump administration, we work with the current administration. That’s our job, that’s what we do, without any presumptions.
Q: Your forecasts show inflation isn’t returning to target until the middle of 2027, compared with the middle of 2026 which you thought before the budget, so has the budget made your job harder?Bailey says the ‘good news’ from the Bank today is that inflation has been falling faster than expected.But there is “greater uncertainty out there”.Firstly, greater global uncertainty “without doubt”.Also, the Bank wants to see the impact that budget measures have on the economy.Q: Has the market reaction to the budget been orderly?[reminder, UK borrowing costs jumped after Rachel Reeves presented the budget on Wednesday].Andrew Bailey says the market had been positioned for lower interest rates at the start of last week, and some of those positions closed as the market moved after the budget.Then on Friday afternoon, the US election was the dominating event on the market.Bailey says the Bank’s staff heard that investors were reluctant to take positions until they knew the result of the US election.Q: Should households expect mortgage rates to be higher than they would have been otherwise, due to the budget?Andrew Bailey points out that mortgage rates have fallen since the Bank’s last monetary policy report in August.He doesn’t indicate that the budget will drive up mortgage rates, saying:
I don’t think that it’s sensible to conclude that the path of interest rates will be particularly different.
Onto questions, and the first goes to my esteemed colleague Larry Elliott.Q: Is the message from this report that interest rates will stay higher for longer because of the budget?Andrew Bailey begins with a tribute to Larry, who is stepping down from his role of Guardian economics editor this month.The governor says:
“We all want to join together and thank you for everything you’ve done for British economics journalism, and wish you all the best for the future. It’s been a pleasure working with you.
Larry then gets a round of applause – a rare event at these press conferences.As Bailey points out:
You are of course the first person ever to get applause in this press conference, because we will never.
Larry fans shouldn’t get too despondent (although I am) as he’ll still be writing his fortnightly column.Onto the question, and Bailey points out that the Bank did cut rates today having seen the budget.
There is some upward effect on inflation, but the path of inflation – we think – returns to the target by the horizon.
There are different ways the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions announced in the budget could play out in the economy, BoE governor Andrew Bailey says.It increases the cost of employment, he explains, and there are at least four potential margins of adjustments
Firms could pass it on through higher prices paid by consumers
They could absorb it through lower profit margins or higher productivity
firms could increase wages by less than they would otherwise
They could reduce employment.
Bailey won’t opine on the policy itself, but the Bank must respond to its consequences on inflation, he says.On the budget, Bailey says overall, fiscal policy is still expected to tighten over the next few years.But, the measures announced last week will reduce the amount of spare capacity in the economy, he adds, before outlining how budget measures will add 0.5 percentage points to inflation at its peak.Interestingly, the Bank’s forecasts assume that fuel duty will push up inflation from the second quarter of 2026, even though chancellor Rachel Reeves froze it last week.Governor Andrew Bailey then explains that the Bank must assess whether the remaining inflation pressures, which manifest in services price inflation and wage growth, will dissipate as global shocks unwind, or not.The Bank of England are holding a press conference now to discuss today’s decision to cut interest rates. You can watch it here.Governor Andrew Bailey is explaining that inflation has fallen more than expected over the last year.Oil and gas prices have been significantly lower than expected a year ago, he points out. Lower than expected food, core goods and services prices inflation has also pulled inflation down.But, he adds that inflation is “expected to rise somewhat” in coming months, to around 2.5% by the end of the year.The pound has risen since the Bank of England’s announcement.Stertling is up almost 0.5% today at $1.294 against the dollar, up from $1.29 just before noon when the rate decision – and the Bank’s latest forecasts – were released.The Bank of England has calculated that Rachel Reeves’s budget last week will fuel inflation, but also lift the UK’s growth rate.In its latest Monetary Policy Report, released at noon, the Bank says that measures such as a higher cap of £3 on bus fares, adding VAT on private school fees, and the increase in Vehicle Excise Duty from April, will push up the cost of living measure.It estimates that the Budget is will boost CPI inflation (which was 1.7% in September) by just under ½ of a percentage point at the peak, “reflecting both the indirect effects of the smaller margin of excess supply and direct impacts from the Budget measures”.The increase in employer NICs is also assumed to have a small upward impact on inflation.The Bank explains:
In the near term, the direct effects of the rise in the cap on single bus fares from £2 to £3 and the introduction of VAT on private school fees from January, and the increase in Vehicle Excise Duty from April, push up the MPC’s projection for CPI inflation from 2025 Q1 and Q2.
The measures announced in the autumn budget are also expected to boost the level of GDP by around 0.75% at their peak in a year’s time, relative to the Bank’s August projections.The Bank of England says it is appropriate to take a “gradual approach to removing policy restraint” – ie, cutting interest rates.The minutes of this week’s meeting say:
Monetary policy will need to continue to remain restrictive for sufficiently long until the risks to inflation returning sustainably to the 2% target in the medium term have dissipated further.
The Committee continues to monitor closely the risks of inflation persistence and will decide the appropriate degree of monetary policy restrictiveness at each meeting.
Policymakers weren’t quite unanimous in deciding to cut UK interest rates today.The Bank’s MPC voted by a majority of 8–1 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4.75%.One member – the hawkish Catherine Mann – preferred to maintain Bank Rate at 5%, but was outvoted.The Bank says:
At this meeting, eight members preferred to reduce Bank Rate to 4.75%. There had been continued progress in disinflation, particularly as previous external shocks had abated, although remaining domestic inflationary pressures were resolving more slowly. These members put different probabilities on and risks around the three cases, but they believed that a cut in Bank Rate was appropriate at this meeting. They would continue to assess the range of evidence over time.
One member preferred to maintain Bank Rate at 5%. For this member, structural factors in wage and price-setting dynamics continued to draw out the underlying disinflation process, and CPI inflation was projected to remain above the 2% target until the end of the forecast period.
Wage developments might continue to be more robust than projected as firms and workers incorporated past and upcoming adjustments in the National Living Wage and National Insurance contributions. This, along with prospects for more robust demand associated with the Budget, was likely to support pricing opportunities for firms. In the face of these uncertainties, maintaining the current level of Bank Rate would allow time to evaluate whether these upside pressures would materialise.
Newsflash: The Bank of England has cut UK interest rates for a second time this year.As City experts had predicted (see opening post), the Bank’s monetary policy committee have voted to lower Bank Rate by a quarter of one percentage points, down from 5% to 4.75%.It’s the second cut this year, following August’s reduction, and comes after inflation fell below its 2% target in September.The Bank will have made the decision having assessed last week’s UK government budget and Donald Trump’s election as US president.European leaders have urged Donald Trump to avoid trade wars, maintain support for Ukraine and to refrain from unsettling the global order, as they arrive in Budapest for a meeting.Reuters has the details:
“I trust the American society,” European Council chief Charles Michel said as he and others urged Trump to continue to support Ukraine, as they arrived at a meeting of nearly 50 European leaders in Budapest.
“They know it is in their interest to show firmness when we engage with authoritarian regimes. If the United States were weak with Russia, what would it mean for China?”
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was now up to the European Union to be united. No EU member state on their own can manage the upcoming challenges, she said.
German government bonds are weakening today, following the collapse of its coalition government last night when Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired finance minister Christian Lindner.With prices falling, the yield – or rate of return – on 10-year German bunds has risen by around 9 basis points, from 2.396% to 2.483%.That narrows the gap (slightly) between German and UK debt; 10-year gilts are yielding 4.54% this morning.Scholz said he had dismissed Lindner after he refused to suspend rules limiting new government borrowing. If that debt brake were lifted, Germany could issue more bonds.
Do you drag yourself out of bed to exercise before work, or go to the gym on your way home? Does a lunchtime walk rev you up for the afternoon, or is it yoga you rely on in the evening to relax? We all know exercise is good for us, but increasing evidence suggests when we exercise can also have an impact our mood, fitness and health.On Tuesday, a study published in the journal BMC Medicine that tracked the activity of 86,252 people aged 42 to 79, revealed participants who had two daily peaks of activity at 8am and 6pm were associated with an 11 per cent reduced risk of bowel cancer, compared to those who were active at other times of the day.Lead investigator Professor Dr Michael Leitzmann, of the University of Regensburg, Germany, said the findings could “open new avenues for targeted prevention strategies.” The reason for the reduced risk isn’t clear, but begs the question: could we benefit psychologically or physically by adapting the timing of our exercise routine? And if so, how?Aerobic exercise in the early morningWorking up a sweat first thing serves several purposes, if you can face it. Not only is it often the most practical way to get a workout out of the way before being waylaid, but neuroscientist Andrew Huberman says it will also help us feel more alert by raising our body temperature, which is lowest in the morning.Personal trainer Kate Rowe-Ham, author of Owning Your Menopause, says lifting weights on waking four times a week, makes her “more energised and motivated for the rest of the day.” She points out that resistance training is proven to balance blood sugar and, long term, lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. “It leaves me less stressed.”Exercising early can also be more efficient for controlling weight – research in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found 45 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise can elevate the metabolic rate for 14 hours, meaning you’re burning more calories during the hours you consume them, as opposed to overnight, while another study on 35 women in the same journal found when participants exercised in the morning they were more likely to increase their activity throughout the day.“Research suggests there may be a slight advantage to doing aerobic exercise earlier in the day because it enhances bloodflow and oxygen to the brain which can improve your productivity,” adds Arj Thiruchelvam, sports scientist and coach at Performance Physique. In terms of boosting feelings of wellbeing, he says resistance training and aerobic exercise are likely to be equally beneficial, “because both trigger the release of endorphins, which is the most important factor in improving mood.”Post-breakfast for longer workoutsWhile studies have found exercising on an empty stomach, whatever the time of day, can increase fat burning by as much as 70 per cent, this need not be prescriptive. “I have to eat a protein breakfast – usually scrambled eggs – up to half an hour before because my workouts are long and I don’t want to run out of energy,” says personal trainer Cornel Chin, who does a two-hour weights session at 11am every Saturday. “This fits into my lifestyle. During the week I speedwalk and do bursts of bodyweight exercises in between coaching clients.”Lunchtime walk in the parkA lunchtime session, meanwhile, can help you cope with the demands of work, especially if done outdoors during our ever-dwindling daylight hours. A two week 2017 Finnish study found a 15-minute walk in the park helped participants more than indoor relaxation exercises, making them feel more relaxed and detached from their work, whereas the “relaxation group experienced only an increase in their feelings of relaxation,” said Kalevi Korpela, professor of psychology at Finland’s Tampere University. Amanda Daley, health psychologist at Loughborough University, says “exercising at lunch time can help clear your head after a morning of work or other activities (and) boost your mood and brain power in the afternoons.”Read NextResistance training in the afternoon It may also carry advantages for our physical health. Last year, a major study in the journal Nature Communications found that while moderate to vigorous physical activity at any time of day is linked to lower risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, those who exercised between 11am and 5pm had a lower risk of premature death from all causes than those who exercised in the morning or evening.The reports’ authors speculated that this may be because blood pressure recovers faster in the afternoon, or because of implications for meal timings – a walk after a meal, for example, has been found to control blood sugar levels – but admitted “the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated”.What we do know is that our body temperature peaks in the afternoon, “and being slightly warmer makes muscle fibres react quicker, which can improve our performance,” says Thiruchelvam. “This is why athletes may want to train then because they’ll be slightly more powerful. Studies show resistance training can be more effective in the afternoon.”HIIT in the evening for some…Reaction times are also often quickest at this point, potentially improving performance in competitive sports and stop-start exercise such as High Intensity Interval Training. Indeed, research by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found American football players usually played better in games starting at 8 or 9pm than they did in games starting at 1 to 4pm.This was due to them being at the peak of their circadian rhythm – the 24-hour internal clock. Yet the time of day you’re happiest exercising will depend in part on your chronotype, or your natural propensity to fall asleep at certain times, and if you’re an early bird who wakes at 5am, for example, evening exercise is still likely to feel a challenge.…but less is best for most in the PMThe most recent research overturns the long-held belief that evening exercise can interfere with sleep, however – and found it may even help us nod off quicker. This summer, a study of 30 participants found those who did three-minute bursts of body weight exercises such as squats and calf raises every 30 minutes over a four-hour period starting between 5pm and 5.30pm slept for an average of 27 minutes longer than the sedentary control group.The exception appears to be doing high-intensity exercise training, which releases the stress hormone cortisol, and is thought to reduce sleep quality when done close to bedtime. Yet any impact is likely to be minimal, says Thiruchelvam, “and it’s still better for you than scrolling on your phone.” He stresses, however, that exercising when tired is more likely to result in injury: “Mental and physical fatigue is when slip-ups occur.” Yoga or stretching before bedIf cardio sounds too strenuous, consider evening stretching – one four-month study on patients with chronic insomnia found stretching three times a week from 5pm to 6pm improved symptoms. A 2019 meta-analysis, meanwhile, found mind-body therapies including yoga and tai chi can be “effective in treating insomnia and improving sleep quality.”Yoga has been shown to increase levels of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep cycle, and is “a great addition to a bedtime routine,” says Rowe-Ham, although research isn’t clear as to whether it needs to be practised in the evening to be of benefit.What’s “vital,” stresses Thiruchelvam, is that we exercise, full stop, and no study should “put people off exercising at their only opportunity.” Rowe-Ham concurs: “I don’t want people to think they’re at greater risk of cancer because they can’t exercise at certain times, or that there’s no point. Movement is beneficial, whatever the hour.”
Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreA Vietnamese tourist sparked a controversy after she posted pictures of herself doing yoga poses in front of South Korea’s Gyeongbokgung Palace, a national heritage site.Gyeongbokgung Palace was the main royal residence and the seat of government during the Joseon period, from 1392-1910.Kieu Hoa, 37, from Hanoi visited South Korea late in October and posed near Gwanghwamun, the main and largest gate of the palace.After she posted her photos, she received criticism from both South Korea as well as her native country Vietnam, with many questioning whether her behaviour or her clothing were appropriate considering the palace is both a sacred and a cultural institution for Koreans.“The palace is a sacred place in their country, much like our Hue Imperial City. Her behaviour is disgraceful,” said one user. “Rude and offensive. Such acts create a negative impression on foreigners about the image of Vietnamese people,” said another, according to Vietnamese online newspaper VnExpress.Ms Hoa defended herself saying she didn’t break any rules and wasn’t cautioned by palace security either. “Everyone has their own preferences, and we should respect differences,” she said.Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor of Seoul’s Sungshin Women’s University, spoke about the potential damage to national cultural institutions, and wrote on his social media: “Vietnamese media pointed out that she acted inappropriately at a Korean historical site and South Korean netizens also criticised her.“She is free to practice yoga in any country or region but it is clearly wrong to do yoga against the wall of cultural assets of other countries. Her alleged assertion that such conduct would not be a problem is wrong.”“Gyeongbok Palace is a national treasure of South Korea and its people. Her yoga done deliberately in front of the palace was clearly an insult to the Korean people,” a Yonhap reader commented.The Royal Palaces and Tombs Centre, a public institution affiliated with the Korea Heritage Service, said on Thursday that there are no legal grounds to punish Ms Hoa since the spot she practiced at was not within the palace grounds.“We’ll take action if we discover any behaviour that is not appropriate for the palace’s image,” the centre said, according to Yonhap. “Police will be notified if any physical impact other than simple physical contact is applied to the wall of the palace.”This incident comes amid a larger conversation in Vietnam over people doing yoga in cultural and public spaces.In October, there was controversy after foreign tourists shot a video of a woman doing yoga on Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam. Many said her yoga outfit was not proper and she should have dressed more modestly. In May, a group of women were fined for causing disruption to traffic after they filmed themselves doing yoga in the middle of a street in Thai Binh.
‘Everything begins with a book’ is the suggestive slogan that the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024), the most important in the Arab world, has chosen for its 43rd edition, which will be held until 17 November.
With 2,520 publishers from 112 countries participating, the fair is significant for book lovers and literary professionals. Among the highlights are the 400 authors who will be present to sign their books and engage with readers, creating an interactive space where literature comes to life. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with the writers behind some of the year’s most anticipated releases.
The fair will feature a solid regional presence, with the UAE leading the Arab world and hosting 234 publishers. Other notable Arab participants include Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria. Internationally, the UK and India stand out with the largest delegations of 81 and 52 publishers, respectively.
The results are still trickling in, state-by-state, but the overall outcome is clear. Four years after he was kicked out of the White House, and accused of launching an “attempted coup” in an angry response to the electorate rejecting him, Donald Trump will be the 47th US president after sweeping both the popular vote and electoral college.In his acceptance speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump took time to praise two key figures in the alternative media space: podcaster Joe Rogan and social media owner Elon Musk. The mentions of the two entrepreneurs highlighted how important Trump thought they were to his re-election bid.But is he correct?“It is impossible to know what real impact things like Trump’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast truly made,” said Steven Buckley, a lecturer in digital media sociology at City, University of London, who specialises in US politics. But it seems like it didn’t harm things for a mercurial, countercultural campaigner like Trump.Buckley believes that not embracing alternative sources of media in the way Trump did harmed the Harris campaign. She “clearly should have done more media hits in both traditional and alternative spaces,” he said. Read Next“I believe Trump’s campaign were less afraid of these alternative media spaces and realised that not only did the free-wheeling, less restrictive nature benefit Trump and his surrogates, but that traditional media would often cover these appearances anyway.”It’s clear that social media played a big part in the election – and the support of Elon Musk. The owner of X called the site “the de facto public town square” in 2022 when he launched his takeover bid.Trump was welcomed back onto X after Musk bought it for $44bn (£34bn) in October 2022. In recent weeks Musk, who has campaigned personally for Trump, appeared ubiquitous in users’ timelines – something that might not have been possible had he not had absolute control of the platform.Trump also chose a digital advertising strategy that appealed to his base of supporters on X, leaving spending on other platforms to be dominated by the Kamala Harris campaign – a strategy that didn’t work for his defeated opponent.Republican-leaning advertisers were six out of the 10 biggest advertisers on X so far this year, according to data compiled by FWIW News at the start of November. The campaign’s @TeamTrump account on X spent nearly $1m (£776,000) reaching would-be voters.Within X, there’s a belief that the platform played an integral part in Trump’s election for the second time, one employee told i. “Look at the messages Elon has been putting out there overnight,” said the employee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. “He’s pointed to X being the signal of public opinion and how it has replaced media.”One post reads: “You are the media now.”
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1854045379408326909
That presentation of X and other social and non-traditional forms of media as replacing, and in opposition to, the traditional media is notable. So too is the idea that Trump somehow ran an unconventional campaign, as many commentators have put it, in choosing to target podcasters and his base on social media.“It’s interesting that traditional media is calling Trump’s comms strategy as unconventional,” said Buckley. “It’s only unconventional in their eyes, but I think to voters Trump’s strategy seemed very normal, reasonable and expected.”The former and future president knew he had to energise his base in order to win enough seats to assure victory, and focused on that, even while his in-person speeches were sometimes poorly attended.Yet the clipped-up depictions of the events played well on social media. And with 43 per cent of Americans telling the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism that they avoid news in one way or another, social and alternative media was where they got their information.Yet despite the importance of Musk, Rogan and the alternative media space that has cropped up – including Trump’s own Truth Social social network – to help promote an alternative view of reality (or the honest view for Trump’s supporters), traditional media still played its role.The uproar over the Washington Post‘s decision not to endorse a candidate demonstrates its perceived influence. An unprecedented 250,000 of the newspaper’s two million subscribers cancelled after Jeff Bezos, the Amazon owner who bought it in 2013, reportedly intervened to stop the board endorsing Harris. Exactly why is unclear. Bezos said it was about restoring trust in the media, while sceptics believe he is another tech billionaire running scared of Trump.But Trump found a way to use traditional media to his advantage, telling a rally before the election: “The Washington Post and the LA Times, they’re not endorsing anybody. You know what they are really saying? They are saying this Democrat is no good and they think I’m doing a great job. They just don’t want to say it.”Lachlan Murdoch, who has sole control of the Fox and News Corp businesses since taking over from his father Rupert, has released financials showing record political advertising across the Fox network. Americans returned to traditional TV news as the tight election race generated more interest.The country’s leading cable news channel, averaging 1.6 million viewers a day throughout October, helped promote Trump as a viable contender for the presidential election, even as he decried the television channel for not doing enough to support his campaign.With Fox News watched by political independents, as well as Republican voters, Harris sat down with host Bret Baier for an interview.And CNN, another traditional media outlet, was the platform for the first and only televised debate between Trump and Joe Biden that ultimately prompted the party to switch candidates for this election. The comparatively last-minute replacement was triggered by Biden’s poor performance on traditional media.Yet there’s no denying that the balance of power has shifted. In a society where anyone can get whatever view of the world they agree with, no matter how detached from reality it may be in some cases, the importance of a single, mainstream voice becomes less important. Or as Fox News’s Baier put it a little after 2am local time this morning: “Maybe it’s the future? It’s Elon Musk. It’s Joe Rogan and podcasts.”
Copenhagen, Denmark — The outlook for business travel in Europe including the path toward a more sustainable future was the focus this week at the GBTA +VDR Conference 2024 in Partnership with the Nordic Business Travel Associations and the GBTA Sustainability Summit in Copenhagen. The co-located events held 4-6 November featured three productive days where industry professionals, subject experts and thought leaders gathered from across the travel, business, and corporate sectors to exchange knowledge, discuss industry trends and explore innovative solutions at Europe’s largest conference for business travel and meetings management professionals.
Held at the Bella Center, this year brought record-setting numbers, attracting 850 registered Summit attendees, over 1,300 Conference attendees including nearly 350 travel buyers, and 67 exhibitors representing 38 countries and territories. It also marked the 10th year of Europe Conference collaboration for GBTA and VDR.
These events reflect that the European business travel industry is fuelled by a brilliant, dedicated community. Working in collaboration with our partners at VDR and the Nordic BTAs, this year’s Conference embodied numerous opportunities for industry insights, professional development and connection, and reflected an optimistic outlook for the future of business travel in Europe, said Catherine Logan, GBTA Senior Vice President, EMEA and APAC.
Jens Schliessmann, Executive Director of the VDR (Association of German Business Travellers), also emphasises the need for partnership with GBTA and the other European associations: We value the long-standing and constructive exchange and want to continue working together in Europe for the business travel industry. The focus here is on advocacy for important topics and the substantive work in the interests of our members.”
Sari Viljamaa, Managing Director, Finnish Business Travel Association: Bringing the GBTA Europe Conference to the Nordics has been a long-time dream for us, and it has been rewarding to see a record attendance in Copenhagen. Combined with the high quality of the program, we trust that delegates enjoyed the event as much as we did!
Sustainability at the Forefront and a Call for Acceleration
The 3rd GBTA Sustainability Summit on 4 November united industry professionals, sustainability experts, and policymakers around the critical need to advance sustainable business travel. The Summit offered an inclusive platform for interactive sessions, open dialogue and insights from 28 speakers on topics including global standards and climate resilience, and provided attendees with actionable insights to integrate sustainability into their travel programs. Sessions and discussions included real-world decarbonisation solutions, regulatory preparedness, the impact of AI, and fostering radical collaboration across the sector.
The Summit kicked off with the unveiling of the results from the GBTA Sustainability Acceleration Challenge. The industry-first global benchmarking initiative from the GBTA Foundation, developed in collaboration with Accenture, evaluated the current state and actions being taken by 241 participating companies to decarbonise their business travel programmes. The findings showed that while organizations have much work to do to accelerate the integration of practices that materially reduce their business travel emissions to Net Zero targets by 2050, there are opportunities to fast-track climate action such as creating momentum through employee engagement, helping scale the market for SAF and ensuring investments in high-quality Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs).
Robust Outlook for Business Travel Spending in Europe
GBTA released new European regional analysis from its 2024 Business Travel Index (BTI™) Outlook report, made possible by Visa, which forecasts regional business travel spending to reach 476.6 billion euros in Europe by 2028 with growth outpacing most global regions except Asia Pacific. For 2024, the projection is for European business travel spending to reach 360.4 billion euros, reflecting a 10.4% increase from last year. Additionally for 2024, Europe is estimated to account for 26.4% of total global business travel spending of 1.36 trillion euros.
Economic factors and global political uncertainty continue to impact the business travel sector in Europe, with Western Europe and Emerging Europe continuing to diverge. And although Europe’s business travel market has made significant strides in recovering from the pandemic, its share of the global market remains slightly below pre-COVID levels.
Dynamic Speakers and Insightful Sessions Spark Discussion and Discourse
The Conference featured 16 education sessions, 7 Main Stage segments and 9 committee roundtables. The Main Stage sessions kicked off with Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, leading a panel of C-suite industry executives from leading airlines. Called “Riding the Wave of Disruption,” the discussion explored how changes in content distribution and commercial pressures are reshaping the business travel landscape.
The Big Idea workshop also returned with a thought-provoking interactive session where delegates worked in small groups to tackle “Today’s Work Culture and What it Means for Business Travel and Travel Managers.” Attendees explored topics such as how technology and collaborative working practices are shaping more flexible work environments; navigating the balance between remote and in-person work; and exploring the broader effects on company culture, legal frameworks and business travel.
Keynote Speaker Dr. Stephanie Hare, renowned researcher, broadcaster and author, explored the evolution of AI by sharing insights and experiences from various industries to demonstrate how AI is driving innovation and reshaping the global landscape.
Education session topics ranged from leveraging technology to reach sustainability goals, to trends in travel risk management, to driving value with hotel programme performance metrics. Committee roundtable subjects included accommodations, inclusion and culture, technology, sustainability and advocacy.
The Conference concluded on 6 November in a true tribute to Danish culture with a closing Main Stage session featuring Magnus Göransson, co-host and judge of Lego Masters Sweden, who shared insights on how to foster a culture of agility and innovation by offering actionable strategies that thrive on innovation, creativity, and playfulness.
Other GBTA +VDR Conference 2024 in Partnership with the Nordic Business Travel Associations Highlights included:
The Global Leaders Reception, an exclusive event to thank the volunteer leaders for their continued support, took place on Sunday, 3 November at the 25hours Hotel Indre.
Connect First, a resource for the Conference’s 373 first-time attendees or those coming solo, helped attendees get the most out of their conference experience. New this year was a Buddy Programme, which paired new attendees with a GBTA Board member or other experienced conference delegates to offer advisement and connection before and during the event. Other programme benefits for first-timers included a specialised WhatsApp group, designated meet-up points in the Connection Zone, and support throughout the event
Thought leader insights and industry breaking news were featured during the conference. The onsite Broadcast Studio hosted nearly 40 industry leaders sharing their perspectives, views and voices and the Media Cocktail Party at the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen brought journalists together with company leaders who shared their organization’s breaking news.
Early-morning Go! Running Tours combined well-being and sightseeing for attendees who could participate in a 5k or 7k running tour or a 3k walking tour around the area of Ørestaden, offering a blend of architecture, urban life and nature.
The 2024 events were made possible through the generous support of the Sustainability Summit sponsors and Europe Conference sponsors.
Event information for 2025 was also announced. The 4th Sustainability Summit will be held 10 June in Washington, D.C. The GBTA + VDR Conference 2025 will be held 10-12 November in Hamburg, Germany.
Click here to view photos from the Sustainability Summit and here to view photos from the Europe Conference.
About GBTA
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,500+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit GBTA.org and GBTAFoundation.org.
About VDR
The German Business Travel Association (VDR) stands for comprehensive expertise in all aspects of business mobility and, with over 600 member companies, is the leading business travel association in Germany. For 50 years now, the association has been representing the interests of the German economy with regard to business travel and mobility in dialogue with business, politics and together with national and international partners. The focus is on a regulatory environment in which business and corporate mobility is economically and ecologically balanced as well as reliable and safe. More info on: www.vdr-service.de.
About NordicBTA
NordicBTA is a cooperation between Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Business Travel Associations. We empower buyers and suppliers of Business Travel and Meetings & Events related services with strategic connections, relevant knowledge, and opportunities to shape the industry. Combined, the Nordic region represents the 10th largest business travel market globally. More info on https://www.nordicbta.com.
Debbie IannaciGBTA Global Communications, PR & Research+1 305 301 7057GBTA
Vontobel has released selective figures for the first nine months and presented a strategy update. The bank sees itself on track with its cost-cutting program.
In its trading update for the period from January to the end of September, Vontobel reported a clear increase in assets under management. A significant portion of this is attributed to strong market performance.
Assets under management amounted to 227,6 billion francs at the end of September, compared to 206,8 billion francs at the end of 2023. The positive market performance since the beginning of the year contributed 16,8 billion francs, according to a statement released on Thursday.
Net new money inflows were reported at 2,6 billion francs. Currency effects added another 1,5 billion francs.
Inflows from Private Clients were «still strong» at 3,1 billion francs, the bank added. These inflows were within Vontobel’s targeted range of 4 to 6 percent.
Institutional Clients, however, recorded outflows of 0,5 billion francs. Nevertheless, these have slowed, the statement continued.
The update provided no further details on business performance.
Strategy Reaffirmed
The bank intends to maintain its strategic focus on the two complementary and diversified client segments of private and institutional clients. Organic growth is to be supplemented by selective acquisitions to expand in key markets and acquire new investment competencies.
Vontobel reaffirmed its targets for revenue growth of 4 to 6 percent over the entire cycle. The efficiency program, aimed at reducing costs by 100 million francs by 2026, is on track. The management is confident that gross cost reductions will ensure this strategic flexibility.
The bank will continue to focus on value creation for clients, emphasizing advisory services, active management, and customized solutions.