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(CNN) – It's Labor Day weekend in the US and Canada, and it's September everywhere. CNN Travel is back with another weekly roundup of news on planes, trains, outdoor and offshore activities.
life at sea
On September 4th, a new underwater expedition will begin to explore the unexplored secrets of the Maldives. There is a lot to see: the small Asian island nation is 99% sea and only 1% land. And in Iceland, tourism officials have expressed outrage over the resumption of whaling this summer after a four-year hiatus. The hunting season ends this month and could end in Iceland.
News from the air
Two Air France pilots were sacked after a brawl in the cockpit and a Southwest Airlines flight was blocked after a passenger showed nude photos to other pilots. This follows news that air passenger complaints in the United States rose 270% in June from pre-pandemic levels. Here's our guide on what to do if your baggage is delayed, lost or damaged – you can make a note of it. A bald eagle surprised pilots after crossing a routine safety line at an airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, in late August. And an 11-year-old Vizsla-Labrador mix named Ibbers won the US Transportation Safety Administration's cutest dog contest – watch it here.
Our friends are animals
Lucas, a San Diego Zoo penguin who suffers from a chronic condition called clubfoot, was recently outfitted with custom orthotic shoes.
A new hippo named Fritz is in the news at the Cincinnati Zoo and an endangered red panda cub was born at England's Paradise Wildlife Park. Life with a bubble machine – when a San Diego penguin was fitted with a special orthopedic shoe to help his feet. Asia's largest bird park will close after hosting our feathered friends for more than 50 years, and last month Indonesian tourism officials went on strike over a massive hike in ticket prices to see the famous Komodo dragon. Country – Admission now $ 250 Finally, the Chiang Mai Thai Zoo organizes an unusual training session to prepare the animals for escape: a staff member dives into a giant ostrich suit.
make tracks
Canada could have a 1000 km / h vacuum tube train. Its manufacturers hope FluxJet will remain operational until 2035. And Hong Kong's beloved Peak Tram has reopened in a new guise after being closed for more than a year.
European city on a hill
When the horizon widens for a few days, you know you live high. Europe has hundreds of quaint towns and villages perched on rocky hills and moors. Here are 14 of the most incredible.
If you missed it
On August 31, La Tomatina, "the greatest gastronomic fight in the world", sees thousands of fans hitting each other with fried tomatoes. Look here. But a few days ago, a truck crashed into them on a California freeway, causing a huge spill of crushed tomatoes that took hours to clean up the truckers. look what happened
Capitals often have a unique energy, very different from the rest of the country.
70 years ago they fought to protect South Korea.
English beaches have problems with sewage.
The best shoulder bag
Why do seasoned travelers love shoulder bags so much? Perhaps this is a practical exercise. Maybe it's a question of better weight distribution. Or the safety features make pickpocketing much more difficult than backpacking. Anyway, our partners at CNN Underscore, CNN's guide to reviews and tips, have rounded up their favorite 20 shoulder bags that are perfect for travel.
