World News

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo has assumed her duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG) for a one-year term, effective from the conclusion of the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Istanbul, Türkiye on 5 June.

Makolo is the 81st chair of the IATA BoG and the first woman to take on this role. She has served on the BoG since November 2020. She succeeds Pegasus Airlines Chairperson of the Board Mehmet Tevfik Nane who will continue to serve on the BoG.

Jamaican Jemar Bather, who is a native of the parish of Saint Catherine in Jamaica, has completed his Ph.D. in Biostatistics at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health and is now working at Merck as a senior scientist in biostatistics. In his new role, Dr. Bather will collaborate with physicians to develop new medications for individuals living with infectious diseases.

Jemar Bather was born in Jamaica and raised in the Bronx, New York. He credits his mother, who had migrated to the United States to pursue a better life, with encouraging him in his interest in mathematics.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has identified sustainability of the national economy as key to his vision for tourism in the immediate future. As a step in that direction, the Ministry of Tourism has embarked on the creation of a tourism strategy for Jamaica in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and stakeholders from a wide cross-section of industries and government agencies.

The first in a series of strategy development workshops being staged in resort destinations was held on Friday (June 2) at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James. Mr. Bartlett related that his vision was “to make tourism inclusive and the driver of the economy of Jamaica, but most importantly, to make it the centre of community enrichment and human development.”

The first face-to-face Skal Asia Congress since the pandemic opened to a fanfare welcome to Asia Skalleagues.

Once again highlighting the association’s strong bonds of friendship and camaraderie in the association’s long 91-year-old history. The Asia Area represents almost 18% of all global members worldwide. Members from more than a dozen countries make up the dynamic Skal International Asia region.

In 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives officially designated June as Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time when Americans celebrate Caribbean history, culture and the vast contributions Caribbeans have made to American society.

Some of the United States’ greatest achievements — in education, literature, LGBTQ+ rights, public health and science — were made possible thanks to its Caribbean American population.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority in partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority has launched its second instalment of its ‘Love Lane’ fast track service for couples travelling to the destination during Antigua and Barbuda’s Romance Month in June.

Couples entering the ‘Love Lane’ on arrival at the award-winning V.C. Bird International Airport from June 1 – June 30, will be fast-tracked through immigration via a special couples-only lane for the month of June celebrations.

Arçelik, one of Europe's leading home appliances companies, announced a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to sustainability. Through its innovative initiatives, in 2022 alone, the company utilized a total of 13,207 tons of recycled plastic in the production of its appliances.

The company has successfully recycled 192 million plastic bottles from ending up in landfill from 2017 to 2022. By using recycled PET bottles, the company has built sustainability and inventive resource solutions into its products such as its washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers and air conditioners.

Train officials have reported at least 280 people were killed and over 900 injured when the two passenger trains collided in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Railroad ministry spokesperson, Amitabh Sharma, stated that 10 to 12 coaches of one train derailed, and debris from some of the mangled coaches fell onto a nearby track. It was hit by another passenger train coming from the opposite direction. Up to 3 coaches of the second train also derailed.

The President of ATB, Hon. Cuthbert Ncube, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HE Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, and Mining (ETTIM), today at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The African Tourism Board is an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from, and within the African region. Also in attendance to witness the signing was the Hon. Silesh Girma, State Minister of the Ministry of Tourism for Ethiopia.

When Virgin Galactic astronaut and mission specialist Christopher Huie took his first space flight on Unity 25 on May 25, 2023, he wore Jamaican and United States flag patches to reflect his conviction that the trip represents the completion of a journey that had its beginnings on the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

The son of Jamaican immigrants, Huie’s personal origin story begins when his mother moved from Harvey River in the parish of Hanover to Chicago at the age of 17 to live with her aunt and pursue better life opportunities. She then went to Florida where Huie grew up. Huie’s mother flew to New Mexico to watch her son take his first space flight from Spaceport.

“Ever since I was a young child, my adoration for the game of tennis has run deep. Starting at a tender age, I competed fervently and proudly represented Barbados on multiple occasions during my formative years, even earning a couple of CARIFTA medals along the way.

“Before the end of my teenage years, my passion for the art of communication and storytelling began to take shape. Over the years I served as a sports reporter, foreign correspondent, United Nations correspondent, communications consultant, news anchor, talk show host, non-profit communications director, airline and event communications advisor, columnist, and now, full-time public relations consultant.

The African Union and The African Tourism Board will sign a Memorandum of Understanding today (Tuesday, May 30) opening a new chapter for tourism in Africa. This new chapter for Tourism Cooperation in Africa is also a new chapter for the African Tourism Board, the African Union, and the African Continent. The proud Chairman of the African Tourism Board, Cuthbert Ncube, is traveling to Addis Ababa to sign this historic Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations at the African Union Headquarters. This will happen at 3.00 pm.

Ocean conservation is a core pillar for OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels and the newly appointed resident marine biologist at OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort has ambitious plans for guest interaction and participation this World Ocean Month, which runs throughout June.

As part of OUTRIGGER Zone – the premier beach resort brand’s global conservation initiative on marine and environmental protection – guests can join in and learn about conservation activities that go beyond World Reef Day on 1 June, World Environment Day on 5 June and World Ocean Day on 8 June.

frican continent had celebrated six decades of independence under the umbrella of the African Union, with high expectations for brighter economic prosperity and tourism development. The continent had celebrated on Thursday this week 60 years of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and its successor, the African Union.

The 60th Anniversary celebration of AU has been observed under the theme “Our Africa, Our Future”. OAU was formed on 25 May, 1963 when 32 heads from independent African States met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, along with leaders from African liberation movements and created a political and economic roadmap that paved a way for Africa’s complete independence and political and economic development.

China has deployed a team of experts to Tanzania to help support establishing a pioneer geopark project in the northern tourism circuit. With a vast territory and complex geological and geomorphic features, China has 289 national geoparks and 41 UNESCO global geoparks, qualifying Beijing as a leading country in the world in establishing and maintaining geoparks.

Asian Airlines had to make an emergency landing with 194 people on board after a passenger opened an emergency door during the flight.

The passenger was able to crack the door open which ultimately flung completely open causing air to rush into the cabin. The Airbus A321 aircraft had just taken off from Seoul, South Korea, and was 700 feet up and close to landing in in Daegu, South Korea, in just a few minutes.