A bridge too far for Canadians?

Imagine building a multi-billion-dollar bridge between two countries that are constantly at loggerheads. 

When the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens for traffic between Windsor, Ontario, in Canada and Detroit, Michigan, in the US on Monday it comes at a time when relations between the two countries are decidedly frosty. 

As is the case in many countries around the globe, US president Donald Trump is widely loathed in Canada.

When the new bridge at the busiest border crossing between the US and Canada was conceived in 2012, the relationship between the two nations was dramatically different, the New York Times reported.

In a spirit of co-operation, the bridge was named after the late Canadian ice hockey star Gordie Howe, who played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

On Friday, the $US 4.5 billion bridge was opened ceremonially just after Trump announced 50% tariffs on a variety of Canadian products worth $US20 billion. 

In response, Canada removed invitations to American officials to jointly open the bridge. And it moved the ceremony from the international border line in the centre of the bridge to the inspection plaza of the Canada Border Services Agency.

“In light of trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would not be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries,” the office of Canada’s infrastructure minister said in a statement.

“The Gordie Howe International Bridge remains a vital infrastructure project that reflects years of hard work and will be a major economic driver.”

Trump responded with his usual tact and restraint. 

“Canada disinvited the United States of America to the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which is fine, considering they are paying substantial TARIFFS to the United States,” he wrote on an obscure social media platform. 

Trump added that the 2012 agreement between Canada and Michigan governing the bridge “no longer stands”. 

Speaking with reporters after the ceremony, Gregor Robertson, Canada’s infrastructure minister said that is not the case, the NY Times reported.

The previous bridge between Windsor and Detroit was privately owned. This one will be funded by Canada and the state of Michigan. 

Thailand promises to crack down on crime

Thai authorities are promising to improve public safety after a series of incidents involving tourists. 

Many have occurred in Pattaya, a city with a reputation for sex tourism and wild nightlife. 

Officials in Chonburi, the province that is home to Pattaya, increasingly view security as essential to maintaining visitor confidence and supporting economic growth, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a nationwide crackdown on crime, making Chonburi one of the focal points of the campaign because of its strategic role as one of Thailand’s largest tourism and economic centres.

Speaking during a security policy meeting in the province, Charnvirakul said criminal activity -including organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime, online scams and illegal gambling - poses a direct threat to both residents and visitors.

The Bangkok Post reported that the prime minister told provincial authorities that the government would fully support law enforcement officers carrying out their duties without political interference.

Charnvirakul said that no criminal organisation should feel beyond the reach of the law and called for closer cooperation between provincial governors, police commanders, the military and local communities.

Chonburi province welcomed approximately 25 million visitors in 2025, making it Thailand’s busiest provincial tourism destination outside Bangkok. Around 40% of arrivals were international travellers. 

The government’s tougher security stance comes as tourism operators themselves are demanding more decisive enforcement, the Bangkok Post said.

Iran protests cause airline issues across the Gulf

Flights in the Gulf region are being cancelled over the weekend as a result of political protests in Iran.

Major international airlines have cancelled dozens of flights to and from Iran as a result of safety and logistical concerns, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Demonstrations in Iran have no been running for over two weeks, initially triggered by the country's deepening economic crisis. They have since evolved into a broader nationwide movement.

In response, authorities have imposed extensive internet outages and communication blackouts in several regions, complicating flight co-ordination, passenger communications and airport operations.

Turkish Airlines announced on Friday that it had cancelled 17 scheduled flights to Iranian cities including Tehran Airport (above), Tabriz and Mashhad for Friday and Saturday, citing regional developments.

Passengers were advised to check the airline’s website for updated flight information. Turkish low-cost carrier AJet and Pegasus also cancelled all their flights to Iran over the same two-day period.

Disruptions have extended right across the Gulf.

Data from Dubai Airport showed that multiple flights operated by Emirates and flydubai to Tehran were suspended on Friday.

Services to other Iranian cities - including Bandar Abbas, Lar, Mashhad and Shiraz - were also cancelled.

A flydubai spokesperson told local newspaper The National. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and revise our flight schedule accordingly.”

In Abu Dhabi, national carrier Etihad Airways suspended all its flights to Iran until Tuesday at the earliest.

In Qatar, flights from Doha to Iran were cancelled on Friday.

Iranian airlines including Iran Air, Mahan Air and Qeshm Air are continuing to operate flights as scheduled.

New reasons to avoid the United States of Lunacy

The United States is becoming increasingly - and dangerously - unstable.

Emboldened after being given a made-up "peace" award by a corrupt sporting organisation, Mad King Donald - the Titan of Tariffs - becomes crazier by the day.

From blowing up ships he thinks might be transporting drugs, allowing ICE goons to harass US citizens going about their legal business, to threatening to close down media organisations whose views he dislikes, the Trumpster is taking US dangerously close to the brink of dictatorship.

His teams of various drunks, warmongers, genocide enablers and sex pests blatantly ignore international laws and conventions.

This is “the land of the free”, where criminals, conmen, sexists and pardoned drug dealers thrive.

Pardons are dangled in front of would-be donors and jackbooted thugs wearing face masks legally roam the streets.

Oh. And the price gouge is on across the country ahead of the 2026 World Cup - and eyes are firmly fixed on how to get hands on Venezuela's oil riches.

The rest of the world looks on aghast - but too petrified to speak out.

Now Agent Orange’s administration is moving to dramatically expand digital screening for foreign visitors - potentially further damaging an already ailing tourism industry.

The Trumpian administration this week proposed a new rule that would require virtually all tourists entering the United States to disclose five years of social media activity, along with extensive personal and family information.

The plan, published in a Federal Register notice by the increasingly emboldened US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), would apply to arrivals from every country.

This would then include those currently eligible to enter without a visa through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Among nations benefiting of the ESTA are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, most European Union countries and the UK.

Traditionallly allies, in other words.

Under the proposal, applicants would be required to submit usernames associated with all social media platforms used in the past five years, as well as all phone numbers and email addresses from the same period.

CBP also seeks to collect detailed information about close family members, including names, birth dates, birthplaces, addresses, and phone numbers.

The disclosures, described in the notice as “mandatory,” would mark a major expansion of digital vetting for tens of millions of travelers from countries.

Heaven forbid if you should be critical of a US politician. 

The (US) public has until February 9 to submit comments about the proposals. The rest of us should shut up. America First. 

The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the proposal when asked by various media outlets.

But the move comes amid a sweeping hard-line turn on immigration and border controls since the tanned/sleepy one took over the US presidency last January.

Tourism industry officials have warned the latest measures could deliver another blow to an already weakened sector.

International travel to the US has fallen sharply since early 2025. It is no mystery as to why.

Ditch the pyjamas: American flyers told they need to dress better

Sean Duffy, the US secretary of transportation, doesn't want to punish airlines for cancelling flights or running late; but he does want passengers to dress smarter.

Duffy, you guessed it, is a Donald Trump appointee who clearly favours big business over the Average Joe.

Duffy this week kicked off a new "civility" campaign week that he calls “The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You”. the New York Times reports. 

The campaign came with a 1960s-parody public service announcement that spliced together scenes of the country’s early air travellers, dressed in suits and hats, along with present-day clips of in-flight brawls and airport meltdowns.

In the background, Frank Sinatra sings “Come Fly With Me”.

 
The Transportation Department’s accompanying news release chastised fliers for forgetting to say “please” and “thank you” and for not helping older or pregnant passengers put their bags in the overhead bins.

“Are you dressing with respect?” asks the video. “Are you keeping control of your children?”

Data does back up the feeling that travellers in the US have become more unruly. 

Since 2019, the Federal Aviation Authority has reported a 400% increase of in-flight outbursts - ranging from disruptive behaviour to violence in the air. 

Duffy thinks getting passengers to dress better is one of the keys to reducing incidents. 

 

"Are you helping a pregnant woman or the elderly with placing their bags in the overhead bin?" he asks. "Are you dressing with respect?

"Are you keeping control of your children and helping them through the airport?

"Are you saying thank you to your flight attendants?

"Are you saying please and thank you in general?"

Sound like Americans need classes in how to behave like adult human beings. 

"Bringing civility back, I think, enhances the travel experience for everybody,” Duffy told Fox News. “Let’s maybe go back to an era where we didn’t wear our pajamas to the airport.”

While there is no doubt flying bogans are on the rise it is hard not to see the irony in taking advice on etiquette from a man whose boss likes to grab women "by the pussy", tells reporters to be "Quiet Piggy!" and how thinks his political opponents' opinions are "Punishable by Death".

 

And, unfortunately, the "dress better" initiative came just a few days after a Duffy decision to scrap a proposal that would have required airlines to compensate passengers for significant travel disruptions within carriers’ control. 

So airlines will not be held accountable for improving customer service.

* Sean Duffy is an American politician, attorney, and former television presenter who has been US secretary of transportation since January, 2025. 

Image: Erica Vigilante, Scop.io

Berlin makes a stand for freedom

Berlin, for so long a city divided, is taking a stand against authoritarianism with Berlin Freedom Week in November. 

More than 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the German city says it will be "giving freedom fighters and prominent democrats from all over the world" a stage. 

Berlin Freedom Week will run in the German capital for the first time from November 8-15 - with over 70 events at over 30 locations throughout the city with The Berlin Freedom Conference on November 10 in the Schöneberger Gasometer (top image) on the EUREF campus the centrepiece of the event. 

Numerous international guests are expected to attend, including civil rights activists, researchers, media professionals and politicians.

Berlin Freedom Week will focus is on the special significance of freedom for Berlin, as well as the topic in the current global context.

The patron of the event is the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner. The entire program of events for Berlin Freedom Week is available at berlin-freedom-week.com.

Guests will include the Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk, the Russian journalist and civil rights activist Vladimir Kara-Mursa, Ben Hodges, former Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces in Europe, and the Director of the German Economic Institute, Professor Dr Michael Hüther. 

Speakers from the World Liberty Congress include the President and renowned Iranian journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad and the Venezuelan politician and freedom activist Leopoldo López. Tickets for the Berlin Freedom Conference can be booked via this link.

A mobile stage will stop each day at central and symbolic locations with a program of stage performances, film screenings, audio installations and interactive elements. 

The centrepiece is the 1:1 replica of the Freedom Bell, which was donated to West Berlin by US citizens in 1950 and ceremoniously hung in Schöneberg Town Hall. 

Politics impacts on declining US travel numbers

Members of the US travel industry are starting to discover the damage to visitor numbers caused by their country's increasingly erratic leadership.

Inbound travel to the US this year is expected to fall for the first time since 2020, a recent report from the US Travel Association reveals.

The report says inbound visits are projected to fall 6.3% to 67.9 million - which is just 85% of 2019 pre-Covid levels.

That is a significant drop from the group’s previous forecast in January, which projected an 8.8% increase to 78.8 million visits during 2025.

The Travel Forecast projected minimal growth in travel spending for 2025 and a significant decline in international inbound travel, which is a critical driver of the US economy, jobs and global influence.

While domestic travel is holding steady, the continued decline in international visitors threatens billions in spending and thousands of jobs, travel news hub Skift reported.

"The next decade can be one of extraordinary growth, but only if we act decisively." the organisation said. "Outdated systems, excessive visa wait times and new travel deterrents are driving global visitors elsewhere. 

"The US must lead by modernizing travel infrastructure, streamlining entry processes and sending a clear message: America is open for business.”

By "travel deterrents", the US Travel Association probably means the increased hassles and potential turnarounds visitors to the US face for "misdemeanours" as inconsequential as social media posts critical of US president Donald Trump.

Potential visitors may be also be made uncomfortable by Trunp's loud "America First" ethos, and by the growing presence of masked ICE offers and armed military personnel on city streets.

The association says: "Travel is one of the most dynamic industries in the world, a powerful engine of economic growth that supports nearly one in 10 American jobs, contributes $2.9 trillion to GDP and provides opportunities for millions of Americans.

"Beyond economic impact, travel fosters social cohesion, strengthens cultural understanding and enriches lives by boosting health, resilience and lifelong learning."

Visits are predicted to drop from 72.4 million in 2024 to 67.9 million in 2025 - the first decline since 2020 - before rebounding with major events in 2026, including the World Cup.

# The US Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing the $US1.3 trillion travel industry. US Travel produces programs and insights and advocates for policies to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for more info.

Image: Dominik Gehl, Scop.io

Thailand abandons plans for legal casinos

Thailand has abandoned a plan to allow legal casino gambling, blaming the current political crisis in the country.

The move comes after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office.

The casino bill is a major policy project for the Pheu Thai Party but it conceded it is "not the appropriate time" to proceed with it, said Julapun Amornvivat, the deputy finance minister.

“It’s a shame; the delay is a lost opportunity for the country,” he said.

Our Thai correspondent had long predicted that the casino plan would not go ahead, citing the money made by influential businessmen in the illegal casino industry.

He said it would "dilute the profits made in illegal casinos".

The Prime Minister is in trouble over an ethics violation in an unrelated natter – the military standoff with Cambodia, media hub Travel Mole reported.

The casino bill aimed to offer permits for major integrated casino resorts to boost tourism revenues.

The cabinet withdrew the bill "for now" as the ruling party has lost the support of its coalition partners.

“It needs more studies that require further understanding and social context,” government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab said.

Image: Calanja McIester, Scop.io

Travel agents offer crucial advice to flyers

Do you have a flight booked to Europe via the Middle East? 

With escalating tensions impacting global aviation routes, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is advising Australian travellers to remain informed and not to cancel their flights.

Airspace closures over Iran, Israel and Russia have significantly narrowed flight corridors into Europe, with delays and route diversions common particularly for passengers transiting through Middle Eastern hubs such as Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 

Major carriers continue to operate with adjusted flight paths, and travellers using Singapore Airlines, Qantas or Cathay Pacific are experiencing minimal disruptions via Singapore and Hong Kong, ATIA says.

Airlines have well-established systems in place to navigate such restrictions, and have been operating under constrained conditions since the start of the Ukraine conflict. Travellers should expect some delays, but not panic.

ATIA says travellers will be contacted by their accredited travel agent or airline of delays and cancellations. 

It urges flyers to not contact agents or airlines unless they are travelling in the next three days. That enables those travelling immediately to be assisted. 

There is an increased chance of delays so travellers should be prepared that they may be spending some time airports as a result of schedule adjustments.

Avoid cancelling flights independently. When an airline cancels your flights you are entitiled to a full refund.

ATIA urges flyers to monitor official travel advice, particularly via the SmartTraveller website.

It says the evolving situation "reinforces the importance of booking through an ATIA accredited travel business as accredited agents and businesses are best placed to manage disruptions, rebook flights and ensure clients receive their full entitlements under Australian Consumer Law.

“Australians flying to Europe via the Middle East should be prepared for some delays, but it's important to know that global airlines have systems in place to manage these disruptions," says ATIA CEO Dean Long. 

"We’ve seen this before, and the travel ecosystem is built to respond.

“The closure of airspace is not new. Airlines have been rerouting around Russia and Ukraine for more than two years, and are now adjusting again. The airlines that fly to Australia have world leading safety protocols and route management.

“Travellers shouldn’t panic or cancel unnecessarily. The one thing we learned through Covid is don’t cancel as it reduces the number of rights you have. Let the airline make that decision. This approach ensures your rights are protected and you get the support you need.”

See www.atia.travel

Image: Kaydir Mumyakmaz, Scop.io

Travellers saying "no thanks" to visiting the US

Tourists from around the world are turning their backs on the US as a potential holiday destination.

Already perceived as an expensive, and in some cases dangerous, destination, the recent belligerence of President Donald Trump, aggressive behaviour by Border Force agents and erroneous deportations has seen demand plummet.

The US tourism industry could be approaching crisis point amid a drastic fall in international bookings, local media reports indicate.

There has not only been a huge fall in bookings from neighbour Canada after Trump's stated desire to make that country "a potential 51st state".

Bookings have dropped by an estimated 70% tourism magazine Travel and Tour World reported.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has reported an overall fall of 17% across Europe in March compared to March 2024.

Denmark saw a reduction of more than 30%, no surprise after Trump's threats to wrest control of Danish autonomous territory Greenland. Other European nations, including Germany, Ireland, Spain, and Norway, saw decreases of more than 20%.

Hotel giant Accor has reported its bookings for European visitors to the US have fallen by 25%..

The Financial Times newspaper in the UK quoted Paul English, co-founder of influential travel website Kayak, as saying that "In just two months [Trump] has destroyed the reputation of the US, shown one way by diminished travel from the EU to the US."

He warned: "This is not only one more terrible blow to the US economy, it also represents reputation damage that could take generations to repair."

The result is that hopes the US travel industry had in a full recovery to 2019 levels of travel bookings this year have officially been dashed, said a leading economist quoted by Hotel News Now.

"Our pre-inauguration forecast expected international travel to nearly fully recover in 2025 to 2019 levels. We're now pushing that out to 2029," said Adam Sacks, president at Tourism Economics.

"Now we're looking at a full 10 years between pre-pandemic and what will be full recovery. And, of course, that comes with significant economic losses."

Image: The Statue of Liberty, New York. Jorge Ibarra Hernandez, Scop.io

Visa-free entry to China a bonus for Australians

Australian travellers and wine producers are among the big winners following the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang earlier this week.

Fresh after announcing visa-free access for New Zealand travellers to China, Li flew across the Tasman and offered the same benefits to Australians.

The visa relaxation moves gives Australians up to 15 days in China without the need for a $110 single-entry tourist visa. The visa-free entry will be valid for tourism, business or family visits.

Australians join New Zealand, Singapore, France, Japan, Spain and Thailand in having the perk, a sign of thawing relations between China and Australia.

“We agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business and visiting family members - so as to better facilitate personal exchanges,” Li said.

Meanwile, Li Qiang made a historical visit to Australia’s popular winery Penfolds, which has resumed exports to China following the lifting of tariffs.

Treasury Wine Estates, Penfolds’ parent company, had CEO Tim Ford and managing director Tom King host Li.

The visit also included welcomes from South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong at Magill Estate, guided by chief winemaker Peter Gago.

So the big guns were out in force.

Image: Beijing. Roberto Moreno, Scop.io 

Flights between Israel and South Africa to suddenly end

Just ask the people of Gaza how accomplished Israel is at taking revenge.

And it now appears the national airline of Israel, El Al, is equally good at that art. 

El Al Israel Airlines has said it will scrap its South Africa route and end flights to Johannesburg within a few weeks.

Just coincidentally, the decision followed South Africa's International Court of Justice action against Israel over genocide against Palestinians.

The airline has said it will end all of its Johannesburg flights from the end of March 2024.

The long-standing service has been operated for close to 50 years, being an important link between South Africa and Israel.

The airline is the sole carrier operating flights between Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.

This service is the only direct scheduled service between the two countries, meaning that it is an important connection for South African communities living in Israel, as well as South Africa’s Jewish communities who travel to Israel from Johannesburg.

There is a large Jewish population, particularly in Johannesburg's northern suburbs.

El Al Airlines said it will be scrapping its direct flights to South Africa due to "a significant fall in demand by Israeli travellers".

The axing of Johannesburg flights will allow El Al to expand the frequencies of its flights to other destinations, the airline said.

Positive signs for Australian wine exports to China

Australian wine could be back on sale in China as early as April next year.

The Chinese government has announced it will review tariffs on Australian wine imports following a long-running dispute over the issue.

The move comes after a number of meetings between leaders of the two countries in recent months.

China’s commerce ministry said in an official statement that it was due to conduct a review into the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Australian wine imports, which China-focused website Vino-Joy.com said could result in sales resuming within a few months.

"The Ministry of Commerce will carry out a review in accordance with the law to fully protect the rights of all stakeholders," Shu Jueting, a commerce ministry spokesperson, told a news conference in Beijing.

"We will adjudicate objectively, fairly and openly based on the claims of each interested party and after examining the evidence."

The latest progress follows the news last month that China and Australia had reached an agreement to settle a World Trade Organisation dispute ahead of the tariff's expiration date in 2026.

A spokesperson for the office of Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell told the Reuters news agency that the latest announcement was “good news for the thousands of Australians who work in the wine industry”.

The Chinese commerce ministry announced i earlier this year that it would be scrapping 80.5% tariffs on Australian barley, which were originally imposed during the height of the two countries dispute in 2020.

China’s trade tariffs on wine came into effect in November, 2020, imposing a charge of 107.1-212.1% on wine exports initially (the rates varied by company). That rose to 116.2-218.4% in March, 2021.

The export sanctions contributed to wiping over 2 billion dollars off the value of Australian wine experts in the year to June 30, 2022, trade site The Drinks Business said.

The duties were originally said to be imposed by Beijing in reaction to the perception that Australia was dumping cheap wines into the People’s Republic. But also came as then Prime Minister Scott Morrison alienated Chinese leaders with a variety of political stances. 

British Minister is both cruel and crazy

Suella Braverman is the stone-cold crazy Home Secretary of the United Kingdom.

Despite being the daughter of migrants from Mauritius and Kenya, she wants to send refugees seeking asylum in Britain to live in Rwanda.

Braverman is on the right wing of the Conservative Party (which is a statement in itself), was a supporter of Brexit and is in favour of the UK withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. She is, predictably, also anti transgender rights.

Suella is not her real name: she was previously known as Sue Ellen, named after a character in TV soap Dallas.

Her latest act of cruelty is aimed at the government having to avoid paying for accommodation for refugees while they are being processed.

Cruella has apparently purchased tents to accommodate up to 2,000 migrants on disused military sites as part of emergency plans to avoid the expensive process of last-minute hotel bookings, The Times reports.

The tents will start to be erected over coming weeks as part of contingency plans to deal with an expected surge of small boat arrivals.

The UK Border Force is predicting that the next three months will be the busiest time for migrant crossings, in a repeat of last year, which saw 51% of the year’s record-breaking 45,755 small boat arrivals (the Brits cunningly think calling refugees small boat arrivals helps demonise them) land in August, September and October.

Home Office sources told The Times there was “nothing wrong” with accommodating migrants in temporary accommodation such as tents.

The latest plan has sparked criticism of "inhumane treatment" of asylum seekers and been compared to concentration camps.

Given her track record, the Right Honourable Cruella is unlikely to care.

A Mickey Mouse lawsuit? Disney v DeSantis

The Walt Disney Corporation has declared war on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Disney, one of the biggest employers in the US state, has accused DeSantis of organising a campaign of "government retaliation" and filed a lawsuit against the smarmy politician.

The legal action escalates an ongoing battle between the entertainment group and the Republican politician, Travel Mole reports.

The two sides have been at odds since Disney chiefs criticised a state law banning discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools.

The lawsuit came after state officials voided a development deal involving the firm's Florida theme park.

There has been weeks of bad blood between DeSantis and the people behind Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck since Disney's public opposition to Florida’s "Don't Say Gay" law.

Disney said DeSantis' moves to assert control over its operations threatened its business and violated its constitutional rights.

It asked the court to negate the moves.

"Disney regrets it has come to this," the company's parks division said in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida.

"But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponise government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain state officials."

Disney opened Walt Disney World (above) in Florida in 1971 and now operates four theme parks in the Orlando precinct.

The legal action was filed after a board appointed by DeSantis voted to take away control from Disney for its resort areas in Orlando.

Cruise industry in Australia growing impatient

Despite the fact that just 20% of Australians have been fully vaccinated against Ciovid-19, the cruise industry in Australia is becoming impatient.

Cruise Lines International Association of Australasia (CLIA) has made a plea to the Federal Government, saying Australia is increasingly isolated as the only major cruise market in the world not taking meaningful action towards a revival of is cruise industry.

The plea came as the Canadian Government cut short its current cruise ban and will allow ships to sail again from November 1, 2021.

"Like Australia, Canada has taken a very conservative and risk-averse approach to cruising, but they've worked hard with industry to develop a detailed pathway towards resumption and economic recovery," said CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz.

"By contrast, Australia has made no progress towards establishing a framework for future cruise operations, despite the availability of comprehensive new health protocols at the international level."

Katz said the cruise suspension had already cost Australia more than $6 billion since early 2020 and had put more than 18,000 jobs at risk, including travel agents, tour operators, farmers and food suppliers.

"Around 600,000 people have already sailed successfully in countries where cruising has resumed, bringing back economic opportunities for local communities," Katz said.

"With these measures in place - including 100% testing of all passengers and crew before boarding – CLIA has called for Australian and New Zealand governments to agree upon detailed plans for a careful domestic cruising revival.

"This would initially begin within local bubbles, involving domestic-only cruises for local residents only.

“As Canada has recognised, it will take months of careful planning to revive cruise tourism.”

Image: Declan McWhinney, Scopio 

Four-year ban on American products ends as bitter orange tart departs

A Belgian bar that banned all American products in protest against against President Donald Trump is now back selling Coca-Cola and American whiskey after the inauguration of new President Joe Biden.

In early 2017, Café ZeeZicht declared that it would stop selling all US products in protest at the election of the Tangerine Tyrant. 

“Now that Joe Biden is president, we are going to sell Coca-Cola and American cigarettes and whiskey again,” David Joris, manager of the ZeeZicht, told Radio 2, as reported by the Brussels Times.

“We had promised that and we are now going to reintroduce American products into our range.”

This isn’t the first time the bar has instituted a boycott. It also refuses to sell beers by brewing giant AB-InBev after job layoffs at Belgian breweries.

“We don’t have anything against Americans, or America or American products,” Joris told the Washington Post when the ban was first announced. “On the contrary. I like to drink Coca-Cola in the summers. I like Bob Dylan. I like working on Apple computers. It’s just our statement. It’s our way of reacting.”

The bar found difficulty replacing Tabasco sauce and Coke - but maintained its boycott until the bitter orange tart left office.