World
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS
British Airways followed employee fuel efficiency suggestions and saved enough to power 550 flights from London to New York last year. Ideas submitted by cabin crew, engineers, ground staff and pilots, included descaling the bathroom pipes, reducing the amount of water stored on-board, replacing glass bottles with plastic and many more. BA used most of the recommendations; small fixes which added up to huge savings. Their goal is to cut carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050. (Travelmole.com, Feb. 23)
TROUBLE IN GREECE
British holidaymakers in Greece are being urged to register with the Foreign Office so they can be contacted immediately if the social unrest in the country worsens. Foreign Secretary William Hague has reminded Britons of the importance of letting the government know their whereabouts, according to a report in the Daily Mail. He told the paper the Foreign Office had drawn up contingency plans in case the situation in Greece worsens and puts Britons at risk. Holidaymakers are advised to register with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s ‘Locate’ service, which takes a note of their contact details so the local embassy or consulate can get in touch in the event of a crisis or emergency. Register (TravelMole.com, Feb. 21)
Euro zone finance ministers agreed a 130-billion-euro ($172 billion) rescue for Greece on Tuesday to avert an imminent chaotic default after forcing Athens to commit to unpopular cuts and private bondholders to take bigger losses. Greece will be placed under permanent surveillance by an increased European presence on the ground, and it will have to deposit funds to service its debt in a special account to guarantee repayments. While the deal provides time for the euro zone to put new crisis measures in place over the coming months, it means Greece will struggle for years without economic growth. Further street unrest could test politicians’ commitment to cuts in wages, pensions and jobs. (Reuters.com, Feb. 21)
TRAVEL WARNING
The Unites States warns U.S. citizens against travel to Syria and recommends that U.S. citizens in Syria depart immediately. The United States advised the Government of Syria that it has suspended all embassy operations effective February 6, 2012, given ongoing violence and a deteriorating security situation. All official U.S. embassy personnel and their family members have departed. The Department of State continues to reach out to U.S. citizen who remain in Syria. They are instructed to direct inquiries to syriaemergencyusc@state.gov for information. U.S. citizens who decide to remain in Syria despite the travel warning are asked to enroll their stay through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and provide their current contact and next-of-kin information. (Travel.State.gov, Feb. 6)
AROUND THE WORLD
President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, widely credited with bringing democracy to the islands, resigned this week after weeks of opposition protests erupted into a police mutiny and amounted to a coup. Nasheed handed power over to the Vice President Mohamad Waheed Hassan Manik, explaining that continuing in office would result in his having to use force against the people. Nasheed resigned on the idea that he does not wish to rule with power and harm citizens. (Reuters.com, Feb. 7)
With the 2012 summer Olympics approaching, many Londoners are looking to make a profit out of their property by renting out their homes and rooms to strangers. Eleven million sports fans, media, and corporate clients will be heading into the capital within the next few months and many see it is a way to make some quick cash. Some are even going so far as to move out completely during the games to avoid the masses and make money off of their unattended housing space. (Reuters.com, Feb. 7)
INTERNATIONAL FLOODS
Torrential rains have sent rivers of mud coursing through small towns in northern Italy, and news reports say five people are unaccounted for. Several towns have been cut off because of flooded roads. Italy’s civil protection agency has urged residents in Liguria and Tuscany to stay home and, if travel is necessary, to stay away from rivers and streams at risk of overflowing. Television images showed rivers of brown water, some as high as windows, plowing through the narrow streets of some towns. (News.Yahoo.com, Oct.25)
Thailand’s worst floods in five decades are bearing down on the capital just as the high season for tourism gets under way, putting this year’s official target of 19 million visitors in doubt, government and tourist officials said earlier this week. Even before Bangkok’s Don Muang airport said it would have to close temporarily, the Tourism Minister said tourist arrivals could be 500,000 to 1 million below target. While Bangkok is braced for the worst, Phuket, Pattaya and Samui, Thailand’s biggest draw cards for tourists, have escaped the deluge that has swamped central and Northern provinces, including the ancient city of Ayutthaya. Tourism is a vital part of Thailand’s economy, Southeast Asia’s second-biggest, employing about 15 percent of the workforce and contributing about 6 percent of GDP. (News.Yahoo.com, Oct.25)
STRIKE NEWS
The union representing some 6800 Air Canada flight attendants called off a strike set to start today after the Federal Labour Minister, Lisa Raitt intervened. She has asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to review faltering contract negotiations, rendering the strike illegal.
Stay tuned to the news about Greece. One-day strikes could occur at any time. On Monday, Oct. 9, transit workers staged an impromptu strike shutting down ground transportation in Athens in protest of drastic government austerity cuts. Another strike has been called for Oct. 19. (NPR.org, Oct. 9)
