A bridge too far for Canadians?

Imagine building a multi-billion-dollar bridge between two countries that are constantly at loggerheads. 

When the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens for traffic between Windsor, Ontario, in Canada and Detroit, Michigan, in the US on Monday it comes at a time when relations between the two countries are decidedly frosty. 

As is the case in many countries around the globe, US president Donald Trump is widely loathed in Canada.

When the new bridge at the busiest border crossing between the US and Canada was conceived in 2012, the relationship between the two nations was dramatically different, the New York Times reported.

In a spirit of co-operation, the bridge was named after the late Canadian ice hockey star Gordie Howe, who played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

On Friday, the $US 4.5 billion bridge was opened ceremonially just after Trump announced 50% tariffs on a variety of Canadian products worth $US20 billion. 

In response, Canada removed invitations to American officials to jointly open the bridge. And it moved the ceremony from the international border line in the centre of the bridge to the inspection plaza of the Canada Border Services Agency.

“In light of trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would not be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries,” the office of Canada’s infrastructure minister said in a statement.

“The Gordie Howe International Bridge remains a vital infrastructure project that reflects years of hard work and will be a major economic driver.”

Trump responded with his usual tact and restraint. 

“Canada disinvited the United States of America to the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which is fine, considering they are paying substantial TARIFFS to the United States,” he wrote on an obscure social media platform. 

Trump added that the 2012 agreement between Canada and Michigan governing the bridge “no longer stands”. 

Speaking with reporters after the ceremony, Gregor Robertson, Canada’s infrastructure minister said that is not the case, the NY Times reported.

The previous bridge between Windsor and Detroit was privately owned. This one will be funded by Canada and the state of Michigan. 

Combine wine tasting with wildlife spotting

Tasmanian sparkling wine producer House of Arras has added a new experience to its cellar door offerings.

Visitors can now sample a sustainable new way to experience its Wildlife & Vineyard Safari on board a quiet, zero-emissions electric passenger golf cart.

The eco-friendly addition is promoted as allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the northern Tasmanian landscape along the banks of the Pipers River while accessing more of the estate with minimal environmental impact.

Following a guided tasting of some of Australia's most awarded sparkling wines, guests can embark on a two-hour journey through the vineyard, learning about sustainable viticulture and spotting native wildlife including resident platypus, wedge-tailed eagles and bandicoots.

Combining world-class sparkling wine with conservation, wildlife and scenery, the experience aims to offers a deeper connection to the landscape and terroir that define House of Arras.

The offering is part of House of Arras' membership of Ultimate Winery Experiences and costs from $175.

See https://houseofarras.com.au/

Thailand promises to crack down on crime

Thai authorities are promising to improve public safety after a series of incidents involving tourists. 

Many have occurred in Pattaya, a city with a reputation for sex tourism and wild nightlife. 

Officials in Chonburi, the province that is home to Pattaya, increasingly view security as essential to maintaining visitor confidence and supporting economic growth, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a nationwide crackdown on crime, making Chonburi one of the focal points of the campaign because of its strategic role as one of Thailand’s largest tourism and economic centres.

Speaking during a security policy meeting in the province, Charnvirakul said criminal activity -including organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime, online scams and illegal gambling - poses a direct threat to both residents and visitors.

The Bangkok Post reported that the prime minister told provincial authorities that the government would fully support law enforcement officers carrying out their duties without political interference.

Charnvirakul said that no criminal organisation should feel beyond the reach of the law and called for closer cooperation between provincial governors, police commanders, the military and local communities.

Chonburi province welcomed approximately 25 million visitors in 2025, making it Thailand’s busiest provincial tourism destination outside Bangkok. Around 40% of arrivals were international travellers. 

The government’s tougher security stance comes as tourism operators themselves are demanding more decisive enforcement, the Bangkok Post said.

Celebrity chef's airport eatery delivers decent food

Anyone who has attempted eating airport food recently knows that you can expect premium prices and a generally underwhelming experience.

Plenty of celebrity chefs have jumped on the airport eatery bandwagon - with varying degrees of success.

With a couple of hours to kill at Sydney Domestic Airport this week I checked out Luke's Bistro and Bar opposite Qantas departure gate 3 for the first time.

It is the latest food outlet for celebrity chef Luke Mangan, an actual kitchen talent, who I was stunned to find actually on the premises - and observing his staff at work.

The prices aren't cheap, and we had a quick chat about the rents demanded by airports nowadays - and how you know anything cheap is not going to be good.

There is a nice relaxed vibe here, not the rushed scene I'd expected. You have to order using a QR code (boo!) but the drinks and food arrived promptly.

A nicely chilled large glass of Coriole Chenin Blanc, and a pleasingly warm and tasty Reuben sandwich. Both were delivered by smiling humans.

Early in the day menu options include a breakfast burger or scrambled eggs on sourdough, while day/evening offerings range from charcuterie towers to posh burgers, tuna sashimi tacos and steak frites.

If you have a little more time than I did there is a Seafood and Champagne Bar to explore. Freshly shucked oysterss anyone? 

There are also cocktails on offer. Next time. 

Good to see a big-name chef keeping an eye on a restaurant bearing his name and maintaining standards.

See https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/eat/lukes-bistro-and-bar/ 

Image: Winsor Dobbin  

The Louvre reopens the doors to robbery site

Paris is back to normal with The Louvre Museum this week reopening its Apollo Gallery to visitors, 10 months after one of the most daring museum robberies in modern history. 

The gallery welcomed visitors again - but without the display cases or the French Crown Jewels that made it one of the Louvre’s biggest attractions. 

Museum officials have removed all precious objects while plans are developed for a new high-security vault elsewhere in the museum, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The Apollo Gallery has remained closed since October 19, 2025, when a gang carried out a clever daylight raid that stunned the art world - and security operatives at The Louvre. 

Disguised as construction workers, the thieves used a cherry-picker truck to gain access through a vulnerable first-floor window overlooking the River Seine.

The robbers completed what French Culture Minister Rachida Dati described as a “four-minute operation,” escaping with eight jewels from the French Crown collection worth an estimated €88 million (about US$102 million). 

The haul included necklaces, a tiara, a brooch and other priceless treasures from the Napoleonic era. 

One damaged item, the emerald-studded crown of Empress Eugénie, was later recovered outside the museum but the remaining jewels have so far not been recovered. 

Louvre president Christophe Leribault says the Apollo Gallery is returning to its original 17th-century role as a ceremonial state gallery rather than a jewelery exhibition. 

The surviving Crown Jewels will eventually be moved to a purpose-built, windowless secure room elsewhere in the museum.

A French parliamentary inquiry later concluded that security at The Louvre had been neglected for years, despite repeated warnings that the Apollo Gallery’s riverside windows represented a significant vulnerability.

Despite the absence of the Crown Jewels, the Apollo Gallery remains one of the Louvre’s most spectacular baroque interiors. Its soaring vaulted ceiling, decorated by artists including Charles Le Brun, inspired Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors and continues to rank among the museum’s architectural highlights.

The Louvre is home to more than 33,000 works spanning antiquities, sculpture and painting - from Mesopotamia, Egypt and the classical world to European masters. Its star attractions include the Mona Lisa, as well as the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Townsville welcomes internationally-branded hotel

Tropical North Queensland has a new internationally branded hotel with the opening this week of Holiday Inn Townsville. 

Located in the central area, the former Madison Plaza is now an IHG property that promises affordable accommodation deals.

The modern hotel has 93 guest rooms, including spacious two-bedroom family rooms, modern meeting and event facilities, communal spaces and the Bistro Sol restaurant, which promises local flavours for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

True to the brand’s global promise, kids aged 12 and under also stay and eat free, making Holiday Inn Townsville the base for travelling families seeking value. 

"The opening of Holiday Inn Townsville is a significant milestone in our regional growth strategy and a testament to our strong partnership with Luxora Hotels alongside our ongoing relationship with La Vie Hotels & Resorts," says Matt Tripolone, regional managing director for IHG Hotels & Resorts. 

“As one of the world’s most iconic hotel brands approaches its 75th anniversary, it is a privilege to continue opening the doors of Holiday Inn in new destinations. Townsville is an exciting and increasingly important regional market, and we look forward to welcoming travellers to experience the brand’s warm, dependable hospitality while discovering everything this remarkable part of North Queensland has to offer.” 

Jerry Xu, CEO of La Vie Hotels & Resorts, said: “The opening of Holiday Inn Townsville is an exciting milestone for everyone involved. Rebranding a hotel is never simply about unveiling a building. It is about creating opportunities - for our people, for our guests, and for the local community.

“By partnering with a globally recognised hotel brand, we are committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences while supporting the region's long-term growth. 

"With increasing investment, infrastructure development and visitor demand anticipated in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, North Queensland is well positioned for sustained growth. We see significant opportunities to further strengthen the region's hospitality sector and look forward to continuing our strategic expansion across Queensland.”

For more details see Holiday Inn Townsville.