Disaster response an'urgent issue,' says new land minister Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tatsunori Ibayashi answers questions during an interview in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Wednesday. New Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tatsunori Ibayashi on Wednesday pledged to respond to heavy rain and other natural disasters with a sense of urgency. Disaster response is an "urgent issue," Ibayashi said in an interview with media organizations, adding that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has strongly instructed Cabinet ministers to prioritize countermeasures. Large-scale natural disasters, including Typhoon Dujuan, have caused significant damage recently in Japan, he said. "The types of disasters have diversified considerably."

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Ever since AI agents came along, people have been trying to turn them into personal assistants that do things like book travel. Now, a new AI Assistant called Lola backed by Booking.com It will offer "personalized recommendations, live availability and pricing, direct booking, preferred rates and benefits," the company said in its launch release. It can recommend and reserve a hotel, restaurant, events, activities or entire trips. The company's launch partners include ResX, CLEAR, BLADE, Aero, SeatGeek, GetYourGuide, Nuitee and Ten Group, plus Booking's own brands Booking.com,

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A tourist coach has crashed in the south-eastern Swiss Alps, leaving several people dead and several injured, local police say. The bus overturned between Susch and Zernez in the Graubünden - also known as Grisons - region late on Thursday afternoon. A large team of rescuers equipped with several helicopters was deployed to the scene. Some 48 Dutch passengers were on board the bus, according to a spokeswoman for the General Dutch Association of Travel Companies on behalf of tour operator OAD, as well as the driver. The spokesperson told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf they could not yet say how many people had been killed or injured.

You're viewing the US edition You can switch to the UK or AU homepage at any time using this menu. 'Quite appalling': The UK's WORST airport revealed - with two-hour queues, nowhere to sit and'excessive' walking distances Best foot forward: The UK's best late-summer walks - from an expert who's hiked across the country for more than 50 years Paws for a pint: Britain's most dog-friendly pubs revealed, from'bark bangers' to kibble machines and canine menus Beyond the Mid-Autumn magic: The electrifying festivals that prove Hong Kong is Asia's most vibrant cultural capital The'walk of shame', fish-bowl cocktails and 5am airport runs with a hangover: Holiday reps from the 80s and 90s reveal what really went on The world's longest ever cruise sets sail on epic 371-day voyage - with stops all around the globe including Zanzibar, Alaska and even Japan Where should Brits move to in 2027? The £16-a-night youth hostels that beat five-star hotels hands down on location...from the Yorkshire YHA that overlooks Whitby Abbey to the 800-year-old Norman Castle in the Wye Valley As the back-to-school blues kick in, what's the best holiday you've ever had? A nightmare property with a killer view: Couple snap up 18th-century Lake Como home before realising the 300-year-old property needed'more work than we ever imagined' 'Unsettling... then incredibly cool': Self-driving taxis can now be booked in the UK, and we've had a first ride - this is what it was like (and why it's not completely driverless) Tourists in Spain brace for 38 degrees this weekend after late summer heatwave hits - with night temperatures no lower than a'torrid' 25 degrees One of Spain's most expensive homes - with its own bowling alley, 42-car garage and hair salon - goes up for sale for £60million You might actually get some sleep on this plane! Ranked by our travel expert, Britain's best to worst holiday parks: From the'perfect' posh lodges no one seems to know about to the only Center Parcs worth considering - and'tired' resort to avoid like the plague We've tested the best baby travel accessories - here are the parent-approved products you need when travelling with a newborn, from carriers to cots Social media is sucking the life out of our holidays - here's how to travel without Instagram and TikTok ruining your next trip Social media is a huge driver for tourism - it's an easy and instant way to share, view and find popular spots to visit.

Of course, there are plenty of AI chatbots you can use to plan your trips -- ChatGPT, Claude, even the new Siri app in iOS 27. But Gemini is even more interesting because it has deep access to other Google services like YouTube and Maps. Remember all those places you used to explore for travel ideas? Gemini knows them all very well. It also goes way beyond just providing you with a bunch of tourist attractions to visit.

Google is bringing a few trip planning features to AI Mode in Search starting today. One of those is the price-tracking tool from Google Flights. The company says you can tell the chatbot where you want to fly and when, and it will present you with options from more than 300 airlines and travel sites. If you then tell AI Mode to track prices, Google will send you an email when they change for your planned destination and travel dates. The company says this feature is now live in all locations and languages where AI Mode is available, except for countries and territories in the European Economic Area.

Mashable Selects Look Up Mashable Voices Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Say More Safety Net Creator Hub Versus Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag All Series This is the only camera you'll need on vacation Stop dragging around a bulky rig to take photos and videos when you should be relaxing. The new Insta360 Luna Ultra is such a good travel camera, you can leave your bulky DSLR or mirrorless cameras behind. Packing your bags for a trip can be a daunting task. Unfortunately, I can't help you with clothes, toiletries, and other essentials you'll need to bring on your vacation. However, I can help you lighten your load when it comes to packing a camera.

You're viewing the US edition You can switch to the UK or AU homepage at any time using this menu. Queen Elizabeth's in-flight requests revealed - from a favourite drink to her secret weapon to fight jet lag The down-to-earth Cotswolds pub - serving pizzas and Negronis - that has its much fancier rivals truly'Stumped' Here's how to book with confidence and make the most of your package holiday Austria's 007 heaven: As the unveiling of the next Bond edges closer, how the film franchise's coolest attraction lets fans relive Daniel Craig's thrilling Spectre chase at 3,000M Would YOU go on a first date abroad? Singletons reveal what happened when they agreed to holiday with someone they'd just met The tiny European island with incredible beaches set for a tourism boost from The Odyssey - and it's not in Greece Is this the five-bed'secret' retreat - boasting its own pool, terrace and 60 acres - that Tom Holland and Zendaya stayed in on the lavish Beaverbrook estate after tying the knot (again)? The secret UK getaways where you can escape Britain's summer crowds, from glorious Welsh mountains to sleepy Norfolk villages Forget the overcrowded Canary Islands, this is why GREECE is the best place to visit this summer: Delicious food, gorgeous beaches, the friendliest locals. I've stayed in countless Greek hotels over the past 40 years - here are my top ten... Is this the world's most luxurious cruise ship?