Robben Island closes for upgrade ahead of G20 Summit hosting
Robben Island, the world-renowned heritage site and symbol of resilience, is pressing pause on public tours from June 16 to September 1.
Why? The island is getting spruced up in preparation for a rather distinguished guest list - G20 dignitaries from around the globe. Think presidents, prime ministers, and finance bigwigs swapping ideas (and handshakes) on global issues.
The Robben Island Museum (RIM) announced in a statement that it would be carrying out essential maintenance and renovations ahead of the G20 Summit, scheduled to take place in November. This year, South Africa gets to play host, shining an important spotlight on our country - and the chance to show off our best beaches, braais, and breathtaking landscapes.
"We look forward to welcoming visitors back... with renewed purpose, enhanced facilities and an enriched visitor experience," RIM states.
Booked a tour during the closure? They've promised a full refund. Your card payment will be automatically reversed, and EFT refunds require your confirmation.
In the meantime, why not turn your attention to the rest of Cape Town's treasure trove of things to do: you can hop on a ferry to Seal Island or sip your way through the Constantia wine route.
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Time Out
06-06-2025
- Time Out
Robben Island closes for upgrade ahead of G20 Summit hosting
Robben Island, the world-renowned heritage site and symbol of resilience, is pressing pause on public tours from June 16 to September 1. Why? The island is getting spruced up in preparation for a rather distinguished guest list - G20 dignitaries from around the globe. Think presidents, prime ministers, and finance bigwigs swapping ideas (and handshakes) on global issues. The Robben Island Museum (RIM) announced in a statement that it would be carrying out essential maintenance and renovations ahead of the G20 Summit, scheduled to take place in November. This year, South Africa gets to play host, shining an important spotlight on our country - and the chance to show off our best beaches, braais, and breathtaking landscapes. "We look forward to welcoming visitors back... with renewed purpose, enhanced facilities and an enriched visitor experience," RIM states. Booked a tour during the closure? They've promised a full refund. Your card payment will be automatically reversed, and EFT refunds require your confirmation. In the meantime, why not turn your attention to the rest of Cape Town's treasure trove of things to do: you can hop on a ferry to Seal Island or sip your way through the Constantia wine route.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Dozens killed as gunmen attack tourists in Kashmir
Dozens of people have been killed after gunmen launched a deadly attack in India. Gunmen in Kashmir opened fire on a group of tourists on Tuesday, with the chief minister saying the 'inhuman' attack was one of the worst targeting civilians for years. At least 24 people were killed, Indian police have said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that 'the attack is much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years', with the death toll 'still being ascertained'. 'This attack on our visitors is an abomination,' he said in a statement. 'The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt.' The attack took place in the popular summer retreat of Pahalgam, about 55 miles by road from the key city of Srinagar. The region's governor Manoj Sinha - New Delhi's representative in the area - condemned 'the cowardly terror attack on tourists'. 'I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,' he said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but rebels in the Muslim-majority region have waged an insurgency since 1989. They are seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan - which controls a smaller part of the Kashmir region and, like India, claims it in full. India has an estimated 500,000 soldiers permanently deployed in the territory, but fighting decreased since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government revoked Kashmir's limited autonomy in 2019. Since then, the authorities have heavily promoted the mountainous region as a holiday destination, both for skiing during the winter months, and to escape the sweltering heat during the summer elsewhere in India. Around 3.5 million tourists visited Kashmir in 2024, according to official figures, the majority domestic visitors. In 2023, India hosted a G20 tourism meeting in Srinagar under tight security in a bid to show that what officials call 'normalcy and peace' were returning after a massive crackdown. A string of resorts are being developed, including some close to the heavily militarised de facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. 'These cowardly terrorists have targeted unarmed innocent tourists who had come to visit Kashmir,' Ravinder Raina, from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told Indian broadcasters. 'Some tourists have been admitted to the local hospital in an injured condition'. India regularly blames Pakistan for backing gunmen behind the insurgency. Islamabad denies the allegation, saying it only supports Kashmir's struggle for self-determination.
Telegraph
12-04-2025
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Miliband spends 10 times more on foreign trips than Tory predecessor
Ed Miliband has spent 10 times more on foreign trips than his Tory predecessor, figures have revealed. The Energy and Net Zero Secretary spent £62,712 on overseas travel since coming to power last year, an analysis by the TaxPayers' Alliance has found. By contrast, Claire Coutinho, his Conservative predecessor, spent £6,155 in the first six months of 2024 after being appointed to the role on Aug 31 2023. Mr Miliband has previously warned the public to reduce domestic flights 'as much as we possibly can', while himself taking long-haul journeys to international climate change summits. 'Net zero evangelism' The revelation has triggered criticism, with Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory leader, accusing Mr Miliband of hypocrisy. 'This is yet another example of the 'do what I say not what I do' politics of the net zero evangelism and its high priest Miliband,' he said. 'As his zealotry ensures the UK has the most expensive energy in the world one thing is for sure, he won't be visiting the multitude of once proud British industry that has been driven out of the UK by his expensive energy plans.' Richard Tice, Reform UK's deputy leader, added: 'No longer Red Ed, Miliband has become Jet Ed, the flying green hypocrite.' In August 2024, Mr Miliband spent £25,002.65 on a trip to Brazil 'to signal Britain's resurgent ambition for global leadership on international climate', as well as positioning the country 'strategically' ahead of the G20 summit in autumn 2024 and Cop30 in autumn 2025. In September 2024, he spent £19505.80 on a trip to New York to 'attend New York Climate week' and the United Nations General Assembly. He spent £7,228.29 on a flight to Washington last October to attend the G20 Energy Ministerial, and a further £10,975.67 on a trip to Baku, Azerbaijan last November to attend Cop29. In his role as energy secretary, Mr Miliband's clean energy projects have attracted growing criticism. Last year, he unveiled plans to spend £22bn on a string of clean energy projects including carbon capture, a scheme in which carbon dioxide is captured and buried permanently deep underground. Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Ed Miliband has barely touched the ground since taking office, all while lecturing the public on net zero. 'While overseas holidays for families are being taxed out of existence, ministers are jet-setting around the globe on the taxpayer's tab. 'Hard-working Brits shouldn't have to fund this climate hypocrisy from MPs who refuse to practice what they preach.' A Tory spokesman added: 'As per usual, it's one rule for Labour ministers and another for everyone else. He's keen to wreck other people's finances in his mad dash to net zero – but he's all too happy to jet across the word. 'Red Ed promised lower bills, but they're going through the roof because of him. The sooner he realises his eco zealotry is crippling our economy, sending your bills skyrocketing and making us less secure the better.'
