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Bandarban tourism ban on 2 upazilas extended till Nov 20

Bandarban district administration has further extended the temporary ban on tourism in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas till November 20 as part of high security measures.

A public notice in this regard was issued from Bandarban Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wednesday upon receiving a letter from Bandarban Cantonment.

Meanwhile, the travel ban on Thanchi upazila has been lifted, it added.

Taking into consideration the safety of tourists, the travel ban on domestic and foreign tourists has been extended in the two upazilas, said the notice signed by Yasmin Parvin Tibriji, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner.

ALSO READ - Bandarban: Ban on tourism in 3 upazilas extended till Nov 16

This is the seventh time that such restriction has been extended for the safety of tourists amid anti-militancy drive in the district's remote forested areas.

On November 12, the ban on tourism in the three upazilas was extended till November 16.

On November 8, the restriction was lifted from Alikadam upazila.

ALSO READ - Tourism ban extended in 3 Bandarban upazilas, lifted from Alikadam

The administration imposed the temporary restriction on visitors in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas on October 18.

Later on October 23, the local administration discouraged tourists from traveling to Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas due to the same reason.

ALSO READ - Bandarban tourism ban extended till Nov 8

From October 10, law enforcement agencies started a joint drive against the underground extremists and criminals in the district.

Friday, 12 April 2024

Tourism in Bandarban revives after ease of restrictions

Alauddin Shahriar

Sun, 18 Feb 24

O vercoming the impacts of the restrictions imposed by the government due to security purposes, the tourism sector in the hill district of Bandarban, a paradise of natural beauty, is becoming vibrant again. The arrival of hundreds of tourists since the beginning of the new year has brought relief to the businessmen involved in tourism-related ventures including residential hotels and restaurants. The famous tourism spots in the district have become crowded again with a growing number of tourists. The tourism businessmen are hoping to make up the losses incurred last year due to travel bans, imposed in the face of a deteriorating security situation, according to the stakeholders.

The district has a number of famous tourism spots including the scenic spot of Nilachal, two swinging bridges at Meghla, the iconic Chimbuk Hill dubbed as Bangladesh's Darjeeling, cable car, Chimbuk Hills, Nilgiri, Tamatungi, Shailprapat fountain, Rupali fountain, Murung fountain, Rijuk fountain, Buddha Temple, Golden Temple, Remakri Boulders, Amiyakhum Falls, the mysterious Ali's Cave, and the highest peaks in the country including Keokradong, Tajingdong, Sakahafong, and Shippi Hill. Tourists here enjoy activities ranging from paddling boats in lakes to cable car rides, and from paragliding in the thrilling breeze of Nilachal to trekking in the scenic beauty of the Shippi Hill. Last year, Bandarban was largely devoid of tourists due to travel bans imposed by the government. Considering the security of tourists, the government imposed travel bans in several phases in four upazilas of the district from October 2022 to December 2023, due to the conflict between armed separatist organisation Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and the law enforcement forces. The four upazilas, Rowangchari, Ruma, Thanchi, and Alikadam, are the main centers of tourism in the district. Md Jasim Uddin, organising secretary of Bandarban Hotel Owners Association and owner of Hotel Arannya, and Jafar Alam, owner of Garden City, told Views Bangladesh Bandarban district used to be full of tourists all year round; but from the mid-2022, the situation changed due to the travel bans. Last year was perhaps the worst time for the tourism industry in the hill district. The enforcement of travel restrictions affected tourism severely. Bank loans burdened many businesses, and keeping them afloat was a major challenge for the entrepreneurs. Several residential hotels and restaurants were forced to close during this period. However, the situation began to change with the easing of conflicts and lifting of travel restrictions in the new year of 2024. Md Kamal, general secretary of the Tourist Jeep Owners Association, said that Bandarban has over 300 jeeps for the tourists. Due to the conflicts and travel bans last year, around 500 transport workers spent their days struggling to make ends meet. However, with the influx of tourists in the new year, tourist jeeps have seen a surge in demand. Locally produced goods have also seen an increase in sales due to the growing number of tourists. According to Priti Bom and Shravanti Tangchanga, female entrepreneurs in the handloom and weaving industry, there has been a rise in the production of local products compared to last year. In this industry, all shopkeepers and producers of handwoven fabrics are women. Women from hill communities are involved in various businesses related to tourism, contributing to the local economy. Regarding the matter, Bandarban DC Shah Mozahid Uddin said that there are no obstacles for tourists to visit Bandarban. Local administration along with law enforcement agencies are working to ensure the safety and comfortable travel of tourists. Tourist police are working around the clock to facilitate tourists in visiting the attractions

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Bandarban Visit Permission

All foreign nationals who wants to visit Bandarban are required to obtain an official permission before to enter the Bandarban town.

Bangladeshi nationals has no need to take any permission to visit Bandarban. But if anyone has a foreign guest with him, that case he has to take the necessary permission from the DC office of Bandarban. For the foreign visitors they need the necessary permission from the District Authority of Bandarban to entry the Hill Tracts.

Bandarban visit permission will obtained from the District Commissioner’s (DC) office at Bandarban.

The relevant permission copy will forward to the Bandarbar checkpoints, but it doesn’t always happen.

There are some information of the visitor is require like his Name, Passport Number, Visa Number, Nationality, Departure and Arival Time, District he Intend to Visit, Purpose of Visit, Activities Detail, Duration of Stay, Mode of Travel, Probable Date of Visit, Expected Date of Return, Tour Operator Name, Present Address, Contact Number, Signature etc.

Whole process is take arround a week. So if a foreigner wants to get the permission he should submit the papers within a week ago.

Bandarban Tours can process the whole services for the foreigners who wants to visit Bandarban Hill Districts.

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Bandarban tourist ban extended till November 27

Apart from the two upazilas, there is no restriction on tourist travel in other 5 upazilas

The ban on tourist travel has been extended to November 27 in Ruma and Rowangchari upazilas in Bandarban.

Apart from these two upazilas, there is no restriction on tourist travel in other 5 upazilas.

The travel of local and foreign tourists to Ruma, Rowangchari Upazila of the district was taken into consideration, according to a memorandum signed by District Magistrate of Bandarban Yasmin Parveen Tibriji. 

The letter said that considering the safety of tourists, the ban was announced for local and foreign tourists till November 27.

Earlier on October 20, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 10 suspected militants and separatists along with a large cache of firearms and ammunition after conducting an operation in the remote areas of Bandarban and Rangamati. The arrestees include seven members of the newly formed militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three of the separatist organization Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF).

Thousands of tourists visit the area every year during the winter, but since the ban, more than 200 hotels and motels, as well as 500 jobs as tourist guides, have fallen vacant as a result of the lack of both domestic and foreign visitors.

However, those working in the tourism sector reported an increase in tourist numbers.

Tourists banned from visiting Bandarban’s Ruma upazila

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Is It Safe in Moscow?

Stanislav Solntsev / Getty Images

When you visit Moscow , Russia, you’re seeing one of the world’s largest, and most expensive, capital cities . While there is a history of violent crime against foreign journalists and aid personnel in Russia, a trip to Moscow is usually safe for mainstream travelers. Most tourists in Moscow only face potential issues with petty crime, though terrorism is also a concern. Visitors should stick to the principal tourist areas and abide by the local security advice.

Travel Advisories

• The U.S. Department of State urges travelers to avoid travel to Russia because of COVID-19 and to "exercise increased caution due to terrorism, harassment, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws."  
• Anyone exploring more of Russia should avoid "The North Caucasus, including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus, due to terrorism, kidnapping,   and   risk of civil unrest." Also, travelers should stay away from "Crimea due to Russia’s occupation of the Ukrainian territory   and   abuses by its occupying authorities."  
• Canada states travelers should use a high degree of caution in Russia due to the threat of terrorism and crime.  

Is Moscow Dangerous?

The Moscow city center is typically safe. In general, the closer you are to the Kremlin , the better. Travelers mainly need to be aware of their surroundings and look out for petty crime. Be especially careful in tourist areas such as Arbat Street and crowded places like the Moscow Metro transit system. The suburbs are also generally fine, though it is advised to stay away from Maryino and Perovo districts.

Terrorism has occurred in the Moscow area, leading authorities to increase security measures. Be more careful at tourist and transportation hubs, places of worship, government buildings, schools, airports, crowds, open markets, and additional tourist sites.

Pickpockets and purse snatching happen often in Russia, perpetrated by groups of children and teenagers who distract tourists to get their wallets and credit cards. Beware of people asking you for help, who then trick you into their scheme. Don’t expect a backpack to be a safe bag bet; instead, invest in something that you can clutch close to your body or purchase a money belt . Always diversify, storing some money in a separate location so that if you are pickpocketed, you'll have cash elsewhere. Keep an eye out for thieves in public transportation, underground walkways, tourist spots, restaurants, hotel rooms and homes, restaurants, and markets.

Is Moscow Safe for Solo Travelers?

Large cities like Moscow in Russia are overall fairly safe if you are traveling alone, and the Moscow Metro public transit is a secure and easy way to get around. But it is still a good idea to follow basic precautions as in any destination. Avoid exploring alone at night, especially in bad areas. You may want to learn some basic Russian phrases or bring a dictionary, as many locals don't speak English. However, in case you need any help, there are tourist police that speak English. Also, exploring with other trusted travelers and locals or on professional tours is often a good way to feel safe.

Is Moscow Safe for Female Travelers?

Catcalling and street harassment are infrequent in Moscow and the rest of Russia and females traveling alone don't usually have problems. There are plenty of police officers on the streets as well. Still, it serves to stick to Moscow's well-lit, public areas, avoid solo night walks, and use your instincts. Women frequenting bars may take receive some friendly attention. Females can wear whatever they want, but those entering Orthodox churches will be required to cover up. Though women in Russia are independent, domestic violence and other inequality issues take place regularly.

Safety Tips for LGBTQ+ Travelers

Russia is not known as a gay-friendly country. However, Moscow is one of the more welcoming cities with a blooming LGBTQ+ community and many friendly restaurants, bars, clubs, and other venues. Hate crimes in Russia have increased since the 2013 anti-gay propaganda law. Openly LGBTQ+ tourists in this conservative country may experience homophobic remarks, discrimination, or even violence, especially if traveling with a partner. Also, while women hold hands or hug publicly—whether romantically involved or not—men should avoid public displays of affection to prevent being insulted or other issues.

Safety Tips for BIPOC Travelers

Moscow  and other big cities in Russia have sizable populations of various cultures, so discrimination against BIPOC travelers is rarer than in other parts of the country where it can become dangerous. Some people living in Russia who are Black, Asian, Jewish, and from other backgrounds have experienced racial discrimination and violence. Tourists won't usually experience overt racism but may be the recipients of some stares. If anyone should bother you, be polite and resist being taunted into physically defending yourself.

Safety Tips for Travelers

Travelers should consider the following general tips when visiting:

• It's best not to drink the tap water. If you do, boil it before drinking, though showering is safe and the amount used to brush teeth is generally not harmful. Mineral water is widely drunk, especially at restaurants, and if you prefer not to have it carbonated ask for “ voda byez gaz” (water without gas).
• If you need emergency assistance in case of fire, terrorism, medical issues, or more, dial 112 in Russia for bilingual operators.
• Be judicious about taking photographs, especially of police or officials. This can potentially bring unwanted attention to yourself by members of law enforcement who won’t mind asking to see your passport. Also avoid snapping photos of official-looking buildings, such as embassies and government headquarters.
• Carry your passport in as secure a manner as possible. If you get stopped for any reason by the police, they can fine or arrest you if you don't have the document with you. Also, keep photocopies of your passport, the page on which your travel visa appears, and any other documents that relate to your stay in Russia.
• Use official taxis only and steer clear of illegal taxi companies, especially at night. Ask your hotel to call a reputable taxi company.

U.S. Department of State. " Russia Travel Advisory ." August 6, 2020.

Government of Canada. " Official Global Travel Advisories ." November 19, 2020.

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Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

• September 2, 2023

What are the best things to do in Moscow? What to do in Moscow? First, I will list the main places to visit by theme, passing by the must-sees, but also more unusual places in Moscow. Then, I will describe what to see in Moscow in one day and how to visit Moscow in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days. Let’s go!

Good to know. For more information, click on the places to open the dedicated blog posts.

Main places to visit in Moscow & best things to do in Moscow

I worked in Moscow and I loved this city for its dynamism and energy. We find there from time to time to see friends, remember good memories and enjoy this giant city! Then the time has come for us to share with you our practical guide.

TOP 5 must-see places in Moscow

• Moscow Red Square
• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Bolshoi Theatre

Places of cultural, historical and religious interest in Moscow

• Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Kremlin Izmaïlovo (pseudo-historic place, recently built in the image of the old, one of the best things to do in Moscow for your Instagram account 😉 )
• Park and ancient village of Kolomenskoye

Visit Moscow of the Soviet era

• Moscow State University and Sparrows Hill
• VDNKh and the Museum of Astronautics, one of the key landmarks of the Soviet era in Moscow
• GULAG Museum
• Metro stations
• The Stalinist skyscrapers, scattered all over the city

Less touristy places in Moscow

• Gorky Park and the GARAGE museum
• The old Krasny Oktyabr factory
• Zaryadye Park
• Center for Contemporary Art, WINZAVOD
• Business center, Moscow City

Main districts of Moscow to visit

• Patriarch Ponds
• Tchistye Prudy
• Kuznetsky most
• Arbat Street

However, regardless of the length of your stay, whether you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days or in 2, you need a visa. The article Obtaining a tourist visa for Russia could then be useful in any case.

What to do and see in Moscow in one day?

List of things to see and do in Moscow in one day:

• Go to Red Square
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral
• See Kremlin walls (but not to visit)
• Visit Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Discover Kuznetsky most districts and see Bolshoi Theatre building
• And if you have time at the end of the day: go to the Sparrows Hill or to the Moscow City for a beautiful view

Things to do in Moscow in 2 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, there are 2 purposes: do not miss the essential places of Moscow and optimize travel.

• First day: Red Square , Saint Basil’s Cathedral , Zariadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre , Kremlin
• Day 2: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the former Krasny Oktyabr factory on Balchug Island, Gorky Park, Moscow State University (one of the Seven Sisters buildings ) and Sparrow Hill

As 2 days os really short, be sure to choose an accommodation in the best districts where to stay in Moscow .

Walking on Red Square in Moscow: one of the unmissable things to do in Moscow

Iconic place and one of the must-see places in Moscow and even in Russia! Besides, if there was only one place to visit in Moscow in 2 days, this place would then be Red Square, without hesitation. Therefore, starting the city tour with Red Square is ideal . Several buildings are on the square, but not all of them have to be visited. Check out my blog post about Moscow’s Red Square in detail to learn more and not miss anything.

Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside

Even more emblematic than Moscow’s Red Square! Built in the middle of the 16th century under the orders of Tsar Ivan Le Terrible, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Orthodox art, and definitely one of the unmissable places in Moscow. Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside is one of the most beautiful things to do in Moscow!

• Visit estimate time : 1h30
• Entry ticket : 700 RUB. Tickets can be purchased on the cathedral’s official website 45 days before the tour.
• Audio guide (recommended): 500 RUB
• Opening hours : June to August 10 am-6pm; from November to April: 11 am-5pm; May, September, October 11 am-5pm. Cathedral closed on Wednesdays. Entrance is closed 45 minutes before closing.
• Find out more in the dedicated article: Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

Take a walk in Zariadye park: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow after visiting Red Square

Zaryadie Park is just a 10-minute walk from St. Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to include in your itinerary if you’re going to visit Moscow in 2 days. From its heights, you can see the red walls of the Kremlin. But, the most impressive point of view is the platform which overlooks the Moskva river. A must see! And clearly one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

• Open 24 hours a day
• Good to know! Park Zaryadye is also a place to visit in Moscow in winter. Find out more here: What to do in Moscow in winter?

See the Bolshoi Theatre and discover the Kuznetsky Most district

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy entrance tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets

The Bolshoi Theater is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets are located north of the theater. It is therefore very pleasant to find them to leave the main axes of the megalopolis.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin

Visit Kremlin is on top of things to do in Moscow. A place of power for centuries, the Kremlin then shows us a whole different image when viewed from the inside. If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, the Kremlin is certainly one of the must-see places in Moscow.

• Opening hours : Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday.
• See our blog post about visiting the Moscow Kremlin

Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

This impressive Moscow Cathedral is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a must see if you visit Moscow in 2 days and clearly one of the things to do in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was first built in 1883 in memory of Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army. Then in 1931 Stalin ordered its destruction. It was then rebuilt again (identically) only in 2000.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 15. At the foot of the Kropotkinskaya metro station.
• Opening hours . Daily: 10: 00-17: 00, except Monday: 13: 00-17: 00
• Free entry (some closing restrictions, for example a short)

Good to know! In orthodox religious places, one must avoid excessively uncovered clothing. Women should cover their heads. After visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can explore Bolotny Island and Gorky Park. This is one of the routes our guide to Moscow.

The old Krasny Oktyabr factory: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow

If you cross the Moskva River by a pedestrian bridge which is located just in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and at the same time you can discover Balchug Island. Furthermore, if you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, you can include this island in your itinerary between the cathedral and Gorky park. Here is the old confectionery factory Krasny Oktyabr, which has gradually turned into a fashionable micro-district. There are then some elements of street art, cafes and restaurants and some Moscow bohemian side. At the end of the island you can see a gigantic 98-meter-high monument dedicated to the Russian reforming tsar Pierre The Great.

Good to know! You can find on this island are the trendiest nightclubs in Moscow. On weekends, there are taxi caps after midnight so there are so many people. On the other hand, if you go there in winter and during the day, the island is quite empty and less interesting to see.

Gorky Park is one of the TOP places to visit in Moscow, because it allows you to better understand the life of the locals and their rhythm. In fact, it’s a huge entertainment park. For example, in winter there is a giant ice rink and in summer – free dance or yoga lessons, sandy beaches for playing volleyball, an outdoor cinema. So, like the locals, have a Stakantchik (ice cream or cooked corn), and enjoy the atmosphere of the place: that’s one of the interesting things to do in Moscow to discover the city.

• Where? Krymsky Val 9. 20 minutes’ walk from Krasny Oktyabr, along the quays.

Sparrow Hill and Moscow State University

The Sparrow Hill, Vorobiovy Gori in Russian, is the highest point in Moscow. It is rather known to Russians, but less to travelers. A nice view on Moscow opens from the hill, and in particular on the Luzhniki Stadium. In addition, on the hill itself is the Moscow State University: an impressive skyscraper from the Soviet era.

• How to get there? By bus T7 (35 min) from Oktyaborskaya station, near Gorki Park. By metro (Vorobiovy Gorki station) + climb the hill on foot. On foot along the Moskva along the Gorky Park (1h30) + climb in funiculars.

Good to know! It is possible to cross the Moskva river by funicular. We actually tested it and it was pretty cool! That is one of our favorite things to do in Moscow!

What to do in Moscow in 3 days?

If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days, it would be interesting to dive into the Soviet era which strongly marked the country and the city. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the capital was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, in order to mark the change of power. Moscow then became the world showcase for communist ideology. Here are the best things to do in Moscow for 3-day-trip!

VDNKh, visit Moscow of the Soviet era

VDNKh is a large exhibition center in the north of Moscow, where there are still several striking witnesses of the USSR. The most interesting are the Museum of Cosmonauts and the Statue of the Worker and the Kolkhozian , which will certainly impress you with its size!

GULAG History Museum

The explanations of the museum are very well done. We really have the feeling of going back in time. If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days and you are interested in history and this subject in particular, I recommend this museum. Visit the GULAG History Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Moscow.

Discover the Patriarche Pounds district

It’s a nice neighborhood in Moscow where you can come across rather affluent locals, but not necessarily very bling-bling. Take a walk in this area is really a cool thing to do in Moscow! In addition, the Ponds of Patriarch is one of the places of Bulgakov’s novel “Master and Margarita”. As this is an interesting area to see, we have included it in a walking tour of Moscow. The route ends at the Moscow Kremlin, which is very convenient, because you will be able to visit Moscow in 3 days by optimizing your trips.

What to visit in Moscow in 4 days: TOP things to do in Moscow in 4 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 3 days, you will already see a lot of things. On the other hand, if you stay one more day, you have plenty to do! The Novodevichy Convent, the Tchistie Proudy district and the Izmaylovo Kremlin are very good candidates for you, if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days.

Visiting Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most brilliant examples of Russian architecture, according to UNESCO. This beautiful complex was built in 1524 and today consists of the convent, but also of a cemetery whose status could be compared to that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. Visiting Novodevichy Convent is one of the great things to do in Moscow, if you want to go a little bit outside of the center!

Discovering Tchistye Proudy district

It’s one of the most popular areas of Moscow, with many cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. It is therefore a place to discover if you want to visit Moscow in 4 days. It is just as pleasant for a stroll as for the discovery of local life. For example, in winter the pond turns into an ice rink.

Visiting the Izmaylovo Kremlin, one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

The Izmaylovo Kremlin is more of a tourist than a historic place. On the other hand, it is a pretty impressive place to discover, especially on weekends. Inside the Kremlin, there is a flea market where you can find a little bit of everything, but mostly good souvenirs to bring from Moscow. For example, chapka, traditional Russian scarves or matryoshka (Russian dolls). Add the Kremlin and the Izmaïlovo market to your itinerary if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days, because it is a nice and very colorful place! Visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is one of the things to do in Moscow, if you want to put colors in your Instagram account! 😉

In 4 days, we will have the opportunity to see several Moscow: Classic Moscow, Moscow of old Russia, Soviet Moscow and a little bit of the new Moscow. So what to visit in Moscow on the 5th day of travel?

What to visit in Moscow in 5 days?

Art lovers will be delighted to discover the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, while others will prefer to stroll along Arbat Street, see the buildings of Moskva-City or visit Bunker 42.

Admiring Russian art at Tretyakov Gallery

Founded in 1856 by an industrialist and great lover of art, the gallery has grown over the decades, and then bequeathed to the state. Today the collection includes more than 140,000 pieces, 15,000 of which are paintings. Visiting the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the things to do in Moscow if you want to discover Russian art!

• Where? Pereoulok Lavrouchinski 10. A 5-minute walk from Tretiakovskaya station
• Opening hours. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry tickets. 500 RUB.

Visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts presents the treasures of ancient Egypt, the paintings of Rembrandt and Cézanne, a fine collection of Impressionism.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 12
• Opening hours. Daily: 10: 00-20: 00, except Thursday: 11: 00-21: 00. Closed on Mondays. The boxes close an hour before closing.
• Entry tickets. The prices vary according to the collections from 300 to 750 RUB.

Walking on Arbat Street

All Russians know Rue Arbat. So, walking on Arbat street is one of the things to do in Moscow. However, after the years, little by little it became very touristy. This is a pedestrian street only. There are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes there, but it is no longer the most authentic neighborhood in the city.

Seeing the buildings of Moskva-City (Moscow City)

Moskva-City is Moscow’s business center, much like Paris’s Defense district. The skyscrapers of Moskva-City are among the tallest in Europe: 373 meters high! Very nice place to see at dusk.

Good to know! You can admire a nice view of Moscow City from the docks of Tarasa Shevchenko. It’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the lights on.

Bunker 42, one of the most unusual things to do in Moscow

Bunker 42 is a secret military complex which was to be used by the Soviets in the event of a nuclear attack: a space of 7000 m² 65 meters underground!

• Where? 5 Kotelnitcheski Lane, 11.
• Prices. 2200 RUB per person
• Opening hours. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Restaurant inside. Original, but rather a tourist trap.

What to visit in Moscow in 6 days or more?

There are still so many places to see, because Moscow is a big megalopolis and there is always something exciting to do there. For example: the ancient Kolomenskoye village or the WINZAVOD contemporary art center .

If you are interested in history and want to see Russian cities on a rather “human scale”, it would certainly be interesting for you to discover the cities of the Golden Ring . For example, it is very easy to get to Sergey Posad from Moscow (less than 2 hours in train). Visiting the Golden Ring is one of the best things to do in Moscow if you are staying more than a 5-6 days.

There are still plenty of places to see in Moscow, however I did my best to list here the best things to do in Moscow, what to see in Moscow in one day, but also in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Moscow!

Moscow travel tips:

• Airport transfer: how to go to Moscow?
• Where to stay in Moscow (hotels, districts)?
• Tourist voucher for Russian visa
• Christmas and New Year in Moscow
• What is the best time to visit Moscow?

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Middle East crisis live: Israel warns it will hit back if Iran strikes as US issues travel restrictions for diplomats

Israel’s defence minister says it will launch ‘appropriate’ response if Iran retaliates over embassy attack in Syria

• See all our Israel-Gaza war coverge
• 11m ago Aid worker says convoy shot at in Gaza mission
• 33m ago OCHA say assessment by UN team in Khan Younis found 'widespread destruction' and 'unexploded 1,000 pound bombs'
• 2h ago Aid ‘still not reaching Gaza’, as top US official warns famine has started
• 2h ago Two Palestinians shot by Israeli forces in West Bank, says Palestinian news agency
• 2h ago Hamas says it does not have 40 hostages who fit criteria for deal with Israel
• 2h ago Hundreds of ultra-orthodox men and boys clash with Israeli police at Jerusalem demonstration
• 3h ago US seeking to deter Iran from strike on Israel, officials say
• 3h ago Irish taoiseach and Spanish PM to discuss Palestine nation state plan
• 3h ago Opening summary

US seeking to deter Iran from strike on Israel, officials say

The US is seeking to deter Iran from carrying out a retaliatory strike against Israel with concerted declarations of commitment to Israeli security , while at the same time trying to prevent the outbreak of a major regional war, officials in Washington have said.

US officials still believe that a direct Iranian missile or drone strike is possible within the next few days, in retaliation for the Israeli bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus on 1 April , which killed a top Islamic Revolutionary Guards general and six other Guard officers.

The developments came as the US restricted the movements of its diplomats in Israel over security fears, the embassy said.

“Out of an abundance of caution, US government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel” outside the Tel Aviv , Jerusalem and Beersheeva areas “until further notice”, an embassy notice on Thursday said.

Israel would rely heavily on US-supplied weaponry in any response to an Iranian strike, a point that Benjamin Netanyahu made implicitly on Thursday, by standing in front of American-made F-15 fighters at the Tel Nof airbase in southern Israel to tell reporters: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them.”

You can read the full piece by Julian Borger and Patrick Wintour here:

Aid worker says convoy shot at in Gaza mission

Unicef spokesperson Tess Ingram says she was on an aid mission on Tuesday when the UN-marked , armoured Toyota LandCruiser she was in was shot, she told ABC News on Friday.

“If we hadn’t been in an armoured vehicle that would have shattered the window and things could have been a lot worse,” she said, according to a report by the Associated Press and Reuters.

Ingram, an Australian citizen, said the IDF and Hamas were aware of the convoy’s movements as part of the mission, but she did not see the source of the gunfire. “It appeared to come from the direction of the checkpoint towards civilians who then turned and ran in the other direction,” she said.

The shooting showed issues surrounding aid coordination have not been resolved since seven humanitarian workers were killed when Israeli drones struck a World Central Kitchen convoy earlier in April, Ingram said.

The AP and Reuters report that she remains determined to go back. “I’ll be a bit more nervous … we know that it’s dangerous here in Gaza , but we’ve just got to keep trying,” she said.

OCHA say assessment by UN team in Khan Younis found 'widespread destruction' and 'unexploded 1,000 pound bombs'

An assessment conducted by a UN team in Khan Younis after the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area, has reported “widespread destruction”.

In an update on its website , the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) wrote:

Every building they visited – and most of those they observed – had been damaged, and paved roads had been reduced to dirt tracks. They inspected a UN warehouse, four medical centres, and eight schools, and all but one had significant damage.”

It said the assessment had been carried out on Wednesday. Stéphane Dujarric , the spokesperson for the UN’s secretary general António Guterres , said:

Street and public spaces in Khan Younis are littered with unexploded ordnance posing a severe risk to civilians, especially for children. Our team found unexploded 1,000 pound bombs lying on the main intersection and inside schools. Residents who returned to the area, and some who remained during the fighting, told the team about the dire shortages of food and water and the loss of critical health services due to the destruction of the al-Nasser and al-Amal hospital.”

🔺 Homes, schools & hospitals severely damaged 🔺 Roads reduced to dirt tracks 🔺 Civilians at grave risk of unexploded ordnance 🔺 Collapsed services Yesterday, we carried out an assessment in #Gaza 's Khan Younis where, with @UN partners, we saw profound destruction. More 👇 — OCHA oPt (Palestine) (@ochaopt) April 11, 2024

China urged the US to play “a constructive role” in the Middle East on Friday after its top diplomat Wang Yi spoke with his US counterpart Antony Blinken over the phone, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).

According to the report by AFP, Blinken used the call to ask Beijing to use its influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel , the US Department of State said.

On Friday China confirmed the call had taken place, saying Wang “expressed China’s strong condemnation of the attack” while emphasising the “inviolable” right to security of diplomatic institutions and the need to respect the sovereignty of Iran and Syria .

“China will continue to play a constructive role in the resolution of the Middle East issue … and contribute to cooling down the situation,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning added. “The US side in particular should play a constructive role.”

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated on Wednesday a promise to retaliate against Israel over the killings of Iranian generals in Syria. Israel has not acknowledged its involvement.

Speaking at a prayer ceremony, Khamenei said the airstrike that demolished Iran’s consulate in Syria earlier this month was “wrongdoing” against a diplomatic post that is considered Iranian territory. “The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished,” he said.

The US has repeatedly made public appeals for China to do more to address the crisis, including through pressure on Iran, which supports Hamas . Beijing in turn has criticised the US as biased toward Israel.

“This round of escalation is the latest manifestation of the spillover from the Gaza conflict, and it is imperative that the Gaza conflict be put to rest as soon as possible,” Mao said on Friday, adding Beijing was calling for an immediate ceasefire.

US president Joe Biden said on Wednesday that US support for Israel’s security was “ironclad,” despite his criticism of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s conduct of the war in Gaza.

Aid ‘still not reaching Gaza’, as top US official warns famine has started

A promised surge in aid into Gaza that Benjamin Netanyahu promised Joe Biden a week ago has so far failed to materialise, aid workers say, as the US aid chief confirmed that famine is beginning to take hold in parts of the besieged coastal strip.

The increase in the number of truck crossing into Gaza claimed by Israel conflicts with UN records and already appears to be faltering.

“There is a lot less than meets the eye so far,” said Jeremy Konyndyk , a former senior official in the Biden administration, who is now president of the Refugees International aid advocacy organisation. “Very little has actually changed.”

One of Netanyahu’s pledges to Biden, to open the Ashdod port north of Gaza as a portal to sea-borne humanitarian aid, has led to no apparent action, according to the Israel N12 channel . N12 reported that none of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) , Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (Cogat) nor the Ashdod Port authorities have so far received instructions about opening the facility to shipments bound for Gaza.

Israeli officials had been promising their US counterparts for weeks that a crossing point would be opened into northern Gaza where the starvation is the most severe . It would either be at Erez , which was the main border point before the current war, or at a new site, they informed Washington . No decision was made, however, until Wednesday, six days after the Biden-Netanyahu call, when the defence minister, Yoav Gallant , said construction had begun on a new crossing. It is not clear how long that construction work will take.

You can read the report by Julian Borger in Washington here:

Two Palestinians shot by Israeli forces in West Bank, says Palestinian news agency

Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in an early morning raid on Friday near the occupied West Bank city of Tubas , reports Agence France-Presse citing the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

One man was killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire on his vehicle in Tubas, the report said.

Another Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli gunfire when troops raided al-Fara refugee camp near Tubas, the agency reported.

The Israeli military did not have an immediate comment on the raid.

The area around Tubas in the northern West Bank is a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups and the frequent target of Israeli military incursions.

The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has seen a surge in violence since early last year, particularly since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in Gaza on 7 October.

At least 461 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers across the West Bank since 7 October, according to official Palestinian sources, say AFP.

Hamas says it does not have 40 hostages who fit criteria for deal with Israel

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has indicated it does not have 40 captives who are still alive who meet the “humanitarian” criteria for a proposed hostages-for-prisoners ceasefire agreement with Israel .

A senior Israeli official confirmed claims made at the weekend by Hamas during talks in Cairo that it does not have 40 hostages in Gaza who meet the exchange criteria.

Ceasefire talks have focused on a US -backed proposal of a phased exchange of hostages and prisoners. In the first instance women, children, and elderly or sick people – including five female Israeli soldiers – would be exchanged for an estimated 900 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel, alongside a six-week ceasefire in Gaza .

Hamas appears reluctant to make up the numbers for an exchange with surviving male hostages. Reliable information about how many hostages remain alive, who is holding them and where has been hard to come by.

The CIA director, William Burns , has presented a new proposal to try to bridge the gaps between the two sides.

The US is pressuring Israel to agree to release 900 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of a three-stage deal as well as allowing the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza.

You can read Peter Beaumont ’s full piece here:

Hundreds of ultra-orthodox men and boys clash with Israeli police at Jerusalem demonstration

Hundreds of ultra-orthodox men and boys clashed with Israeli police on Thursday evening at a demonstration in Jerusalem against plans to end the community’s sweeping exemption from military service. Thousands of men had arrived, many with young sons in tow, to say prayers and hear speeches under a banner reading “don’t touch the yeshivot (religious schools)”, down the street from a conscription office. One rabbi involved in organising the event, Abraham Manks from the hard line Peleg Yerushalmi or Jerusalem faction , described it as “a gathering, not a protest”, a show of Haredi unity. It drew the biggest crowds seen at an ultra-orthodox rally since before the Covid pandemic, said analyst Israel Cohen .

But although the majority were peaceful, a few hundred metres from the main stage, outside the military building, rows of angry boys pushed against police lines, taunting officers, throwing drinks and sticks, and trying to attack them with protest placards. Some of the youngest looked as if they were under ten, and treated clashes with the police almost like a game, laughing as they tried to race past officers. They carried signs and stickers reading “Either Haredi, or in the army”. The community says young men who go to serve, alongside secular men and women, will lose the religious outlook that is the heart of life at the conservative communities, were the sexes are strictly segregated and smartphones banned.

A young Ultra Orthodox holds a sign in Hebrew with the inscription "to Jail and not to the army.  Thousands of Haredi or #UltraOrthodoxJews demonstrate in Jerusalem against the Israeli army conscription law outside an army recruitment office in Jerusalem: pic.twitter.com/rAhjISYBcb — Quique Kierszenbaum (@Quique_K) April 11, 2024

“The message to Israeli society is that there is a large group of people who don’t want to serve in the army,” Manks said. “The fear is that we will loose our identity, and joining the army will mean loosing our identity.” He said the meeting aimed to unite Haredis, and protest that a decision affecting over a million Israelis had been made by a court, not by the government.

The supreme court ruled at the end of March that a system exempting ultra-Orthodox students at yeshivas from military service was discriminatory. It dates back to Israel’s founding, when only about 400 men were covered; now over one in ten Israelis are Haredim.

Conscription notices have started going out, and the government said it will cut stipends that are vital for religious students. But potential recruits say they would rather go to jail. “We are the men they are telling (to join the army),” said Moshe , 19, who declined to give his last name. “There are many men here who have an arrest warrant because of that.” “We are gathered here to show that we are not afraid of the supreme court decision, we are not afraid of prison.” Like many ultra-Orthodox, he said prayers of yeshiva students protect Israel more than its army.

The issue is a major threat to embattled Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu . His coalition government relies on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties who have threatened to leave over the issue, bringing him down. But opposition figures who joined an emergency unity government, including Netanyahu’s biggest rival Benny Gantz , have threatened to leave if the prime minister tries to find a way to once again exempt large numbers of ultra-orthodox Israelis from military service.

Quique Kierszenbaum contributed reporting

Scotland ’s migration minister has urged the government to expand the number of Palestinian people who can join their family in the UK , reports the Press Association.

In a letter to UK minister Tom Pursglove , Emma Roddick pushed for the Refugee Family Reunion scheme to include “immediate and extended family, including parents, children over 18, siblings and their children”. The current system allows only for partners and children under 18 to join family in the UK.

Roddick suggested the minister meet with families of people stuck in Gaza and hear their “harrowing experiences”.

According to the Press Association, Roddick also called for the Home Office to waive the need for biometric data to be collected for Palestinians looking to leave before they arrive in the UK, or to transfer those trying to come here to a site where they can make an application under the current system.

Roddick said:

The Scottish government and the Scottish Refugee Council fully support the aims of the Gaza Families Reunited campaign alongside more than 74,000 people who have signed a public petition as well as more than 75 migrants’ rights organisations and law firms across the UK. The campaign calls for a scheme to be opened for relatives of all Palestinians in the UK, not just those with refugee status. This should be open to a wider cohort of immediate and extended family, including parents, children over 18, siblings and their children.”

A spokesperson for the UK government said:

We are working around the clock to get British nationals, who want to leave, out of Gaza. We have a team on the ground in Cairo and at the Rafah crossing providing consular assistance. We currently have no plans to establish a separate route for Palestinians to come to the UK. However, any dependants of British citizens who need a visa, can apply for one.”

A spokesperson for the Gaza Families Reunited campaign said they were “pleased” Roddick was pushing for action. “We all have a right to family unity but the UK Government’s reluctance to create a Gaza Family Scheme is endangering the lives of Palestinians in Gaza and keeping families apart,” they added.

The campaign said that while the UK government had “signposted to existing routes” in response to calls for family visa schemes for Palestinians from Gaza, these were “extremely limited and simply do not work”.

“We know that at least two people have died while waiting for the Home Office to decide whether they can reunite with their loved ones in the UK. This is unconscionable,” they said.

The campaign is calling on the British government to offer a similar scheme to that which was introduced for Ukrainian families:

The British government has previously offered sanctuary to Ukrainian families under the Ukraine Family Scheme. All we are asking is that the same option is afforded to Palestinians seeking protection from bombardment and starvation, who want to reunite with their loved ones.”

Irish taoiseach and Spanish PM to discuss Palestine nation state plan

The new Irish taoiseach is to meet the Spanish prime minister to discuss their joint plan to recognise Palestine as a nation state and their attempts to force the EU to assess Israel ’s human rights obligations as a condition of their trade deal with the bloc.

Pedro Sánchez , who is due to arrive in Dublin on Friday, is the first foreign premier Simon Harris will meet since his promotion to the office of the taoiseach this week.

In the months since the Hamas attacks of 7 October and Israel’s offensive in Gaza , Spain and Ireland have emerged as the EU’s most pro-Palestinian member states.

On Thursday in Brussels , Harris said he had made clear Ireland’s position on the need for an immediate ceasefire, during a meeting with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen . He also reiterated its formal request, made with Spain two months ago, to review the Israel-EU association agreement.

“I believe the European Union must use all of the levers at its disposal [to protect the Palestinian people],” Harris said.

His remarks came as he faced sharp criticism from Israel for not mentioning the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza during his debut speech to the Irish parliament as taoiseach.

You can read more on this story here:

Opening summary

It has gone 8am in Gaza and 9am in Tel Aviv . This is our latest Guardian live blog on the Israel-Gaza war and the wider Middle East crisis.

Israel’s defence minister has said the country will respond directly to any attack on Israel by Iran , as concerns mount of Iranian retaliation over a deadly Israeli strike in Syria .

“A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” Yoav Gallant told the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin , on Thursday, according to Gallant’s office.

Iran has vowed retaliation after Israel destroyed an Iranian consular building in Damascus on 1 April, killing seven Revolutionary Guards including two generals.

The US is seeking to deter Iran from carrying out a retaliatory strike with concerted declarations of commitment to Israeli security , while at the same time trying to prevent the outbreak of a major regional war, officials in Washington have said.

The US on Thursday restricted the movements of its diplomats in Israel over security fears, the US embassy said, with personal travel outside the Tel Aviv , Jerusalem and Beersheeva areas barred “until further notice”.

In other key developments:

The US president, Joe Biden, has pledged that Washington’s commitment to defend Israel against Iran is “ironclad” , amid rising US concerns that a “significant” Iranian strike could happen within days. The UK prime minister, meanwhile, said Iran’s threats of an attack were “unacceptable” . Rishi Sunak’s office said he reaffirmed British support for Tel Aviv’s right to defend itself.

Germany’s foreign minister called her Iranian counterpart to urge “maximum restraint ” to avoid further escalation. The US envoy to the Middle East reportedly called the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq asking them to deliver a message to Tehran to lower tensions with Israel. The Kremlin urged all Middle East countries to show restraint and prevent the region slipping into chaos.

The top US commander for the Middle East, Gen Erik Kurilla, is in Israel for security talks with Israeli military officials, the Pentagon has said.

Iran has signalled to Washington that it will respond to the Israeli attack in a way that aims to avoid major escalation and it will not act hastily, Iranian sources told Reuters. Tehran’s message to Washington was conveyed by Iran’s foreign minister during a visit to Oman, the sources said.

A promised surge in aid into Gaza that Benjamin Netanyahu promised Joe Biden a week ago has so far failed to materialise , aid workers say, as the US’s aid chief confirmed that famine was beginning to take hold in parts of the Palestinian territory. The increase in the number of truck crossing into Gaza claimed by Israel conflicts with UN records and already appears to be faltering. Several countries including France and Jordan airdropped about 110 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the French president and military said.

A video has surfaced of a senior official at Israel’s cyber intelligence agency, Unit 8200, talking last year about the use of machine-learning “magic powder” to help identify Hamas targets in Gaza. The footage raises questions about the Israel Defense Forces’ recent statement that it “does not use an artificial intelligence system that identifies terrorist operatives or tries to predict whether a person is a terrorist”.

Israeli forces killed three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an airstrike in Gaza without consulting senior Israeli commanders or political leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Israeli media reports. Quoting senior Israeli officials, Walla news agency said on Thursday that neither Netanyahu, the prime minister, nor Yoav Gallant had been told in advance of the strike, which was coordinated by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet intelligence service.

Haniyeh said the Israeli attack, which also killed at least two of his grandchildren, would not change Hamas’s demands for a permanent ceasefire and return of displaced Palestinians from their homes in ongoing negotiations mediated by Qatar and the US. “All our people and all the families of Gaza have paid a heavy price in blood, and I am one of them,” the militant group’s exiled political chief said from his base in Doha, the Qatari capital. The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted Haniyeh’s sons, who it described as “three Hamas operatives”. The Turkish president offered his condolences in a phone call to Haniyeh, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office said.

At least 33,545 Palestinians have been killed and 76,094 injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since 7 October, the Gaza health ministry said on Thursday. The Hamas-run ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.

Hamas has indicated it does not have 40 captives who are still alive who meet the “humanitarian” criteria for a proposed hostages-for-prisoners ceasefire agreement with Israel. Ceasefire talks in Cairo have focused on a US-backed proposal of a phased exchange of hostages including women, children and elderly or sick people. An Israeli official confirmed claims made by Hamas in Cairo that it does not have 40 hostages in Gaza who meet the exchange criteria.

An Israeli minister has said that after Hamas’s 7 October attack there is no longer a “moral” justification to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from army service , breaking a longstanding taboo within his community. The interior minister, Moshe Arbel, is from the ultra-Orthodox party Shas. Israel’s ruling coalition has been scrambling to find a compromise on drafting the cohort after the country’s top court effectively struck down the decades-old exemption as of 1 April.

Joe Biden now understands that Benjamin Netanyahu “played” him during the early months of the war in Gaza but “that ain’t going to happen any more”, according to US senator Tim Kaine. The Democratic party’s leading foreign policy voice told the Guardian that the Israeli prime minister had made Israel “dramatically less safe” and hurt its longstanding relationship with the US.

Israeli jets hit military targets of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in the areas of Meiss el Jabal, Yarine and Khiam, as well as a Hezbollah observation post in the area of Marwahin and another compound in Al-Dahira in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said on Thursday.

The US destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen as well as 11 Houthi drones, the military said on Thursday, after the Iran-backed group claimed it had targeted Israeli and US ships off the Gulf of Aden. US central command said no injuries or damage to vessels were reported.

Israel’s foreign ministry denounced Ireland’s new prime minister, Simon Harris, for not mentioning the hostages held by militants in Gaza during a speech to the Irish parliament.

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E.P.A. Says ‘Forever Chemicals’ Must Be Removed From Tap Water

The rule applies to a family of chemicals known as PFAS that are linked to serious health effects. Water utilities argue the cost is too great.

By Lisa Friedman

For the first time, the federal government is requiring municipal water systems to remove six synthetic chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems that are present in the tap water of hundreds of millions of Americans.

The extraordinary move from the Environmental Protection Agency mandates that water providers reduce perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, to near-zero levels. The compounds, found in everything from dental floss to firefighting foams to children’s toys, are called “forever chemicals” because they never fully degrade and can accumulate in the body and the environment.

The chemicals are so ubiquitous that they can be found in the blood of almost every person in the United States. A 2023 government study of private wells and public water systems detected PFAS chemicals in nearly half the tap water in the country .

Exposure to PFAS has been associated with metabolic disorders, decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children and increased risk of some prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, according to the E.P.A .

Michael S. Regan, the E.P.A. administrator, called the new regulation “life changing.”

“This action will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses,” Mr. Regan said on a call with reporters on Tuesday. He described the rule as the most significant action the federal government has ever taken to reduce PFAS exposure in drinking water.

“We are one huge step closer to finally shutting off the tap on forever chemicals once and for all,” he said.

The E.P.A. estimated it would cost water utilities about $1.5 billion annually to comply with the rule, though utilities maintain that the costs could be twice that amount and are worried about how to fund it. States and local governments have successfully sued some manufacturers of PFAS for contaminating drinking water supplies, but the settlements awarded to municipalities have been dwarfed by the costs of cleaning up the chemicals, municipal officials said.

Industry executives say taxpayers will ultimately foot the bill in the form of increased water rates.

The 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law provides $9 billion to help communities address PFAS contamination and the E.P.A. said $1 billion of that money would be set aside to help states with initial testing and treatment.

Mr. Regan announced the regulation on Wednesday in Fayetteville, N.C., near the site where, in 2017, a Chemours chemical plant discharged water contaminated with PFAS into the Cape Fear River, making the local drinking water unsafe.

Mr. Regan, who previously served as North Carolina’s top environmental regulator, oversaw the Cape Fear PFAS investigation at the time and forced Chemours to clean up the air, soil and water in the lower Cape Fear River basin communities.

In 2022, the E.P.A. found the chemicals could cause harm at levels “much lower than previously understood” and that almost no level of exposure was safe.

Under the new rule from the E.P.A., water utilities must monitor supplies for PFAS chemicals and would be required to notify the public and reduce contamination if levels exceeded the new standard of 4 parts per trillion for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Previously, the agency had advised that drinking water contain no more than 70 parts per trillion of the chemicals.

Public water systems have three years to complete their monitoring. If those samples show that levels of PFAS exceed the new E.P.A. standards, the utilities would have another two years to purchase and install equipment designed to filter out PFAS.

In a 2020 peer-reviewed study , scientists at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, estimated that more than 200 million Americans had PFAS in their drinking water.

Public health advocates and scientists said the new regulation was overdue.

“A growing body of scientific research shows that PFAS chemicals are more harmful to human health than previously thought, and at extremely low levels,” said Anna Reade, director of PFAS advocacy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group.

In just the past year, more than a dozen peer-reviewed studies have found evidence of additional health effects of PFAS exposure, including a delay in the onset of puberty in girls, leading to a higher incidence of breast cancer, renal disease, and thyroid disease; a decrease in bone density in teenagers, potentially leading to osteoporosis; and an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in women.

Dr. Susan M. Pinney, the director of the Center for Environmental Genetics at the University of Cincinnati, led a longitudinal study of young girls who had been exposed to PFAS after an industrial plant in West Virginia released the chemicals into the Ohio River.

She called the number of people exposed to PFAS around the country “mind boggling.”

Robert A. Bilott, an attorney who has spent more than two decades litigating the hazardous dumping of PFAS chemicals, said he had alerted the E.P.A. to the dangers posed by the chemicals in drinking water as early as 2001. “It has taken far too long to get to this point, but the scientific facts and truth about the health threat posed by these man-made poisons have finally prevailed,” Mr. Bilott said.

The E.P.A. calculated the health benefits of the new regulation at about $1.5 billion annually from reductions in cancer, heart attacks and strokes and birth complications.

But Republicans and industry groups, along with many mayors and county executives, said the Biden administration had created an impossible standard that would cost municipal water agencies billions of dollars.

Several questioned E.P.A.’s accounting as well as the science used to develop the new standard.

The American Water Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and other groups representing water utilities estimated that the cost of monitoring and remediation of PFAS could be as much as $3.2 billion annually. The figure is based on an analysis conducted for the American Water Works Association by Black & Veatch, a firm of consulting engineers.

Communities with limited resources will be hardest hit by the new rule, they said.

“When regulations are set near zero, that is not something manufacturers or water systems can economically achieve,” Brandon Farris, the vice president of energy policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, wrote in a letter to the E.P.A. “Regulations that are not economically achievable will lead to critical substances being manufactured outside of the U.S. where environmental protections are often less stringent.”

Christina Muryn, the mayor of Findlay, Ohio, a town of about 50,000 people, said that, while clean drinking water is an imperative, the E.P.A. was requiring municipalities to meet new mandates without adequate support.

“That is very frustrating to me as a citizen, as a mayor, and as someone who is responsible for our water treatment system,” Ms. Muryn said.

Public health advocates said the costs of the new rule were outweighed by the growing body of evidence of the dangers posed by PFAS.

Widely used since the 1940s, the chemicals are useful in repelling water and oil. Nonstick pans have been most famously associated with PFAS but the chemicals can be found in water-repellent clothes and carpets, certain shampoos, cosmetics and hundreds of other household items.

Lisa Friedman is a Times reporter who writes about how governments are addressing climate change and the effects of those policies on communities. More about Lisa Friedman

The Proliferation of ‘Forever Chemicals’

Pfas, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are hazardous compounds that pose a global threat to human health..

For the first time, the U.S. government is requiring municipal water systems to detect and remove PFAS from drinking water .

A global study found harmful levels of PFAS  in water samples taken far from any obvious source of contamination.

Virtually indestructible, PFAS are used in fast-food packaging and countless household items .

PFAS lurk in much of what we eat, drink and use, but scientists are only beginning to understand how they affect our health .

Though no one can avoid forever chemicals entirely, Wirecutter offers tips on how to limit your exposure .

Scientists have spent years searching for ways to destroy forever chemicals. In 2022, a team of chemists found a cheap, effective method to break them down .

Dragon's Dogma 2 Mod Removes All Fast Traveling Restrictions

• A new mod for Dragon's Dogma 2 removes fast travel restrictions, allowing players to instantly travel to various points of interest.
• Director Itsuno previously commented on limitations, stating travel is only boring if the game is.
• The modding community supports players by creating workarounds for game systems, such as improving framerates and removing restrictions.

Dragon's Dogma 2 has received a mod that removes all restrictions from its fast travel system. The vast open world of Dragon's Dogma 2 requires the Arisen and their Pawns to traverse much of it on foot, as the game's inherent fast travel is severely limited. However, this new mod makes fast travel a universal feature.

Before Dragon's Dogma 2 was released, its director, Hideaki Itsuno, commented in several interviews about his take on the open world and the limitations on fast traveling. Itsuno said that travel is only boring if the game is boring. These claims by the director, coupled with the debate that fast travel in Dragon's Dogma 2 would be very restricted, left some players skeptical.

Dragon's Dogma 2: The Argument for Story DLC Over More Vocations

The modder rthomasv3 seems to be one of the players who didn't like this limitation on fast travel in Dragon's Dogma 2 and decided to create a mod that removes all restrictions. With the mod, it's possible to instantly travel to various points of interest in the game, such as cities, dungeons with rare monsters like Sphinx and Medusa, and even the elusive locations of all 240 Seeker Tokens in Dragon's Dogma 2 . Portcrystals and Ferrystones aren't necessary with the mod.

Modding Community is Changing Dragon's Dogma 2 Game Design

It's not the first time that the modding community has tried to support players by creating workarounds for some game systems. Several mods for Dragon's Dogma 2 modify the base game, such as giving the Arisen unlimited stamina or removing requirements to change vocations.

However, some mods seem so essential that they should come bundled with the base game. After the release of Dragon's Dogma 2 , the game garnered negative criticism regarding its framerate, microtransactions, and save system. Although Capcom promised an update to address these issues, so far it has only released a patch to facilitate the creation of a new save, while Dragon's Dogma 2's framerate remains clunky.

That's why a modder created a mod that reduces the CPU usage of Dragon's Dogma 2 , slightly improving the game's overall framerate. Still, it's a temporary solution until Capcom releases a new update. And since the publisher seems interested in releasing a DLC for Dragon's Dogma 2 , it will likely continue supporting and updating the game for years to come.

Dragon's Dogma 2

Platform(s) Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS5, PC

Released March 22, 2024

Developer(s) Capcom

Publisher(s) Capcom

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• Traffic & Safety
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Our goal is to keep Michigan's motorists safe, informed, and mobile. That is why MDOT offers many ways to help ease the stress of commuting by providing information that commuters want and need as they make daily travel decisions.

• Report Potholes
• Carpool Lots
• Ridesharing

Did you know that millions of people visit the Great Lakes State every year? Whether you are from out of state or right here in Michigan, we want to ensure your travel throughout Michigan is informative, comfortable, and fun.

• Welcome Centers & Rest Areas
• Roadside Parks & Scenic Turnouts
• Pure Michigan Byways

At MDOT, safety is paramount. It is our goal to improve overall safety for all road users, internal staff, contractors performing work on roads, and emergency responders.

Every year, MDOT produces an updated version of the state transportation map. The department also produces numerous geographic information system maps to assist commuters, tourists, and businesses.

In Michigan, there are three publicly-owned and operated bridges: Mackinac Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, and International Bridge. There are also two privately-owned and operated border crossings: Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

• Aeronautics
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• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
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MDOT is committed to ensuring that projects, programs and services are performed without discrimination, under Title VI.

Resources for minorities, women, and other socially/economically disadvantaged persons.

The Bureau of Bridges and Structures is responsible for statewide policy, procedure development, and execution to ensure all bridges and structures are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to ensure safety.

• Geotechnical Services
• Structure Construction
• Structure Design
• Structure Preservation & Management

MDOT provides funding for competitive grant and loan programs primarily, but not exclusively, for state and local road agencies for the greatest impact on economic development and job creation.

• Transportation Alternatives Program
• Michigan Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program (SSSG)
• State Infrastructure Bank
• Rural Task Force Program
• Small Urban Program
• National Summer Transportation Institute Program

MDOT's Highway Programs focus on the development and management of the department's roadsides, environmental efforts and policies, and federal-aid highway information.

• Federal-Aid Highways
• Environmental Efforts
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The Bureau of Transportation Planning develops and implements a comprehensive transportation planning process which results in investments that are consistent with the policies of the State Transportation Commission. 

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• Michigan Mobility 2045 Plan
• Asset Management
• MI Travel Counts
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Research Administration supports and promotes innovative research that encourages safe, sustainable and cost-effective transportation solutions throughout Michigan.

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MDOT provides technologies and partnerships in order to make the transportation system safer and less congested.

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MDOT has ongoing government-to-government communication with 12 federally recognized sovereign tribal governments whose lands are situated within Michigan.

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The Office of Communications works with the media to inform the public of MDOT's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. The office is responsible for media relations, social media, and website development.

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Public participation is integral to efficient, effective and responsive transportation decisions. At MDOT, we want to ensure your voice is not only heard, but makes a difference in moving Michigan forward.

MDOT News Releases

Transportation Reality Check takes on transportation myths and misconceptions, and explains why MDOT does things the way they do.

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Resources for the development of quality transportation project documents and services.

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Resources for specialized engineering and technical support for construction staff.

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Resources for consultant advisories, prequalification information, contracts, and proposals.

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Resources for grant and economic development opportunities and project coordination.

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Resources for local governmental agencies that regularly require access to state right of way.

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Resources for MDOT real estate standards, policies and procedures, and training.

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Resources for general work zone mobility guidelines for engineering and technical staff.

Resources for rules, guidelines, restrictions, and permits to safely transport goods.

Resources for transforming data into information, and information into knowledge.

• Internship Program
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• Transportation Career Pathways Program
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• Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program
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The Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students interested in civil engineering and construction management careers, valuable experience by working with professional field staff.

TRAC engages high school and middle school students in solving real-world problems, such as designing bridges or analyzing the environmental effects of building a highway.

The MDOT Transportation Career Pathways Program is committed to helping you build a fulfilling and rewarding career in the transportation industry, even if you're not entirely sure where to start.

• Bay Region TCPP
• Metro Region TCPP
• North Region TCPP
• Southwest Region TCPP
• Superior Region TCPP
• University Region TCPP

MDOT's Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a rotational program that provides new engineers experience in multiple work areas while being assigned a senior-level mentor.

The HBCU TDRP is a unique partnership between MDOT and Michigan colleges and universities to offer on-the-job training to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in engineering or transportation-related careers.

The Veteran Internship Program assists honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces as they transition into the civilian workforce.

Engineering Week videos and lesson plans are all-inclusive resources to show early elementary to high school students the career of civil engineering at MDOT.

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At MDOT, we are here to help. If you can't find what you are looking for in our popular topics, frequently asked questions or website search, give us a call at 517-241-2400 or fill out our contact form.

MDOT's seven region offices each handle transportation-related construction, maintenance and programs within the region's geographic boundaries.

• Grand Region
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MDOT's Office of Governmental Affairs represents the department's interests as new or amendatory legislation is developed or moving through the legislative process.

Responsible for establishing policies, supervising programs, overseeing state and federal funds, and acting as a resource.  

• State Transportation Commission (STC)
• Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC)
• Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority (MSCA)
• Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA)
• Sault Ste Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA)
• Michigan Council on Future Mobility
• Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC)
• Engineering Operations Committee (EOC)
• MDOT - FHWA Partnership

Policies help the department implement its mission of serving and connecting people, communities, and the economy through transportation.

• Complete Streets

Allows MDOT's regions and engineers to expand their knowledge on how Michigan freeways are operating over time and how they compare to each other. 

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MDOT lifting all remaining spring weight restrictions Monday

April 11, 2024

LANSING, Mich. ­- Effective 6 a.m. Monday, April 15, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will lift seasonal weight restrictions on all state trunkline highways in the entire state of Michigan. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations.

Weight restrictions are implemented during the spring frost thaw period and are now completed for the 2024 season.

County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect.

For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can access this information on MDOT's website at www.Michigan.gov/Truckers , under "Restrictions." All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online . You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts .

Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256.

Media Contact:

Dan Weingarten

MDOT Superior Region Media Representative

[email protected]

906-250-4809

Related News

M-50/us-127 br (cooper street) closure for bridge repairs in jackson begins monday.

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will close southbound M-50/US-127 BR (Cooper Street) between South Street and Morrell Street for bridge repairs in Jackson beginning Monday.

MDOT hosting open houses April 23, May 15 for last phase of I-696 project from Lahser to Dequindre roads

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) invites the public to attend either of two open houses regarding the last phase of the I-696 Restore the Reuther project with the proposed rebuilding between Lahser Road and Dequindre Road.

MDOT public open house April 24 for M-14/I-96 project between Sheldon and Newburgh roads in Wayne County

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is hosting a public meeting to discuss the upcoming M-14/I-96 rebuilding project in the city of Livonia and Plymouth Township.

Work on M-102 (8 Mile Road) moves near M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue) for approximately a month in Detroit

DETROIT, Mich. - Beginning Monday, April 15, eastbound and westbound M-102 (8 Mile Road) will have double-lane closures near M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue) for approximately a month.

I-96 Flex Route: Ramp closures Friday and Saturday before traffic shift between Kent Lake and Milford roads

NOVI, Mich. ¬- Beginning 9 a.m. Friday, April 12, until 5 a.m. Saturday, April 13, the northbound I-275 ramp to westbound I-96 will be reduced to one lane.

Road closures in Emmett Township for I-94 bridge work

MARSHALL, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will closing two local roads at I-94 for bridge work as part of the three-year, $160 million project on I-94 between Helmer Road and 17 1/2 Mile Road in Calhoun County.

I-75 BL (Square Lake Road) project between M-1 and I-75 begins Monday in Bloomfield Township

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is rebuilding the I-75 Business Loop (BL) (Square Lake Road) between M-1 (Woodward Avenue) and I-75 in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, starting next week, beginning with the westbound lanes.

M-18 resurfacing project starts April 15 in Gladwin County

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing approximately $4.1 million to improve 17.6 miles of M-18 in Gladwin County from First Street north to the Gladwin/Roscommon county line.

M-85 (Fort Street) closure at Outer Drive delayed until April 19-21 for bridge work in Wayne County

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. ¬- Due to weather conditions, the closure of northbound M-85 (Fort Street) at Outer Drive on the Detroit/Lincoln Park border is now scheduled for next weekend, April 19-21.

Important: Suspension of flights to/from Tel Aviv

• Travel requirements for Dubai

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Find out the process for returning to Dubai, whether you’re already overseas or you plan to fly from Dubai and return. 

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Follow the process to make sure you have everything you need before you travel to, from, or connect through Dubai.

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Ban on tourism in Bandarban’s 4 upazilas extended till 4 Nov

Bandarban district administration has extended the temporary ban on tourism at Ruma, Rowangchhari, Alikadam and Thanchi upazilas till 4 November as a security measure amid the ongoing operation against suspected militants and criminals.

A public notice regarding the tourism ban extension was issued from Bandarban Deputy Commissioner's office on Sunday.

The travel ban on domestic and foreign tourists has been extended as security measures in the district, said the notice.

Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The administration imposed the temporary restriction on visitors in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas on 18 October morning.

On 23 October, the local administration discouraged tourists from traveling to Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas  due to the same reason.

From October 10, law enforcement agencies started a joint drive against the underground extremists and criminals in the district.

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

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