Starting Jan. 16, foreign visitors to Istanbul's Hagia Sophia now pay €25. This fee surprised many as the site was free before. The ticket grants access to its upper gallery and museum, within this UNESCO World Heritage site.
China and Switzerland are set to strengthen their free trade agreement and visa procedures following a high-level meeting led by Premier Li Qiang and Swiss President Viola Amherd. The talks covered various bilateral issues and the resumption of foreign ministry dialogues.
Greece is introducing a new climate tax for tourists, aiming to fight climate change and fix damage from natural disasters. Despite concerns it may deter visitors, Greece expects a big rise in tourism for 2024, with more flights planned.
Indonesia's Mount Merapi, known for frequent activity, released a large amount of ash. The alert level was raised, and residents were advised to avoid staying overnight near the danger zone.