News of the World November 29, 2025

JAPAN

The remains of five Ainu people, an indigenous ethnic group from the northern part of Japan, will be returned to the country by the Natural History Museum in London, which was using them for anthropological studies. After the remains, which were excavated in 1865, are given back, they will be kept at the Ainu cultural facility and museum Upopoy in Shiraoi, Hokkaido.

INDONESIA

The world’s oldest passenger ship was turned into a hotel thanks to an $18 million investment from a wealthy businessman. The SS Medina, built in Texas in 1914, two years after the sinking of the Titanic, was decommissioned in 2009. However, Singaporean Eric Saw, the boat’s owner, transformed it into a hotel on Bintan Island in Indonesia. The new hotel boasts 93 cabins across four decks, an infinity swimming pool, spas and a restaurant.

ITALY

Due to concerns over adequate transportation, a cap has been imposed on the number of tickets being sold for Winter Olympics events in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a mountain resort town in the Veneto region. The Games are being held in February, and work on building a cable car link to carry spectators from the town center to the Tofane Alpine Skiing center, where the women’s races are being held, is behind schedule.

MEXICO

British singer Dua Lipa is getting her own taquería in Mexico City. Tacos La Dua will be opening for a limited time at the start of December, to coincide with the “Dance the Night” songstress’ concert in Mexico, the last stop on her Radical Optimism Tour. Located in the trendy neighborhood of La Condesa, the restaurant will offer a themed menu and merchandise in honor of the Grammy winner.

SOMALIA

Since its civil war in the 1990s, the country has had few Western visitors, but that has all changed as Somalia is experiencing a tourism boom. Its tourism department reported approximately 10,000 tourists visited in 2024, which is a 50% surge from the previous year. The US Department of State lists on its website, “Do not travel to Somalia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping, piracy, and lack of availability of routine consular services.” However, James Willcox, founder of the adventure tour company Untamed Borders, told CNN Travel that many of his clients are attempting to visit all 193 UN-recognized countries or are looking to travel to extreme destinations.

With Wires