Regional News - Asia / Pacific.

Regional News - Asia / Pacific.
lowing the species to
be down-listed from OvulnerableO to Onear threatenedO and removed from
the BirdLife International List of Threatened Bird Species of the World.
RELEASE OF 30 YOUNG ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES Frgate Island has the second
largest population of Aldabra Giant Tortoises, with approximately 2,000
free-roaming individuals. These tortoises are capable of growth
throughout their life, if conditions permit, and can live to be 150
years or older. The average weight of males is 250 kg and females 150
kg. They are often found in numbers in shady areas during the heat of
the day. The tortoises on the island are not tame or domesticated, but
are generally indifferent to the presence of people. When frightened,
tortoises quickly pull their heads into their shell, making a hissing
sound as they expel air from their lungs. On Frgate Island, baby
tortoises are kept in a pen for protection, where they are spoiled with
plenty of leaves, fruits, and fresh water. Once they are old enough or
reach a certain size, they are released into the wild. The release
happens twice a year, usually during the festive season for the
Christmas and New Year program. On December 23, 2011 and January 1,
2012, the ecology team, along with Fregate Island PrivateOs Managing
Director and guests, released a total of 30 Aldabra Giant Tortoises at
Anse Parc area. Immediately after the release, the tortoises started to
explore the area, roaming around the lawn and feeding on new leaves.
They are being monitored and have adapted to their new surroundings with
ease. MIGRANT BIRDS ON FREGATE ISLAND Birding on Frgate the last few

months has provided some special sightings, including species that have
not been recorded here before, although they have been recorded on the
island previously. A female Garganey has made herself at home since
November in the pond next to the marina. She was very skittish at first,
but these days pays scant attention to humans and goes about her
business as if nobody is there. December saw the arrival of two
blue-cheeked bee-eaters, with their characteristic calls alerting their
presence. They were around for a few days before disappearing from the
plateau in the area of the spa and Glacis Cerf. Both frigate bird
species were regularly seen patrolling over the island in December, with
more than 20 individuals being seen together on a number of occasions.
Cuckoos have made their annual return to Frgate with four common cuckoos
seen at different locations around the island. Once again, Fregate looks
forward to finding some new and interesting species in the next couple
of months. Jan 18, 2012
Seychelles represented at World Future Energy Summit The Republic
of Seychelles is being represented at the 5th World Future Energy Summit
(WFES) by a delegation comprised of the Minister for Investment, Natural
Resources, and Industry, Mr. Peter Sinon; the Seychelles Ambassador to
the UAE, H.E. Dick Esparon; the CEO of the Seychelles Energy Commission
(SEC) Mr. Andrew Jean-Louis; and Mr. Tony Imaduwa, Principal Officer for
Renewable Energy at the SEC. The theme of this yearOs summit is
OPowering Sustainable Innovations.O Among the prominent dignitaries who
attended the forum were Sheikh Mohamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,the Crown
Prince of Abu Dhabi; Mr. Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Premier; Mr. Kim
Hwang-sik, the Prime Minister of South Korea; Mr. Olafur Ragnar

Grimsson, the President of Iceland; the President of the 66th UN General
Assembly, Mr. Nasser Abdul Aziz Al Nasser; the UN Secretary General, Mr.
Ban Ki-Moon; and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
of UAE, among others. In his keynote address, the UN Secretary General,
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, took the opportunity to declare 2012 as the
OInternational Year of Sustainable Energy for all.O Among the special
guests to deliver presentations at the opening ceremony was Mr. Bertrand
Piccard, initiator and innovator of a project that successfully flew a
solar-powered aeroplane through day and night. In his speech, he
emphasized that the motivation behind his project was not to
revolutionize air transportation, but rather to demonstrate that with
the present and available technologies, the sky is the limit as to what
could be accomplished. He implored governments to take affirmative
action to apply the effective use of clean technology to power a more
sustainable future. Central to the summit, are the discussions and
showcasing of various clean and alternative energy technologies that
have the potential to replace the current unsustainable reliance on
fossil fuel. The latter is the main cause for carbon dioxide emissions
and global warning. As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), the
Seychelles has already embarked on the path to embrace renewable energy
for its sustainable development. One important initiative to facilitate
this process is the formulation and eventual adoption of the new energy
legislation. This will allow the private sector to fully participate to
produce and supply clean and renewable energy. The OPort Victoria Wind
Power ProjectO being implemented by Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy
Company) is the first major flagship renewable energy project in

Seychelles. Its realization strongly substantiates the governmentOs
commitment to building a more sustainable energy future. In his
interaction with representatives of Masdar, the Minster took the
opportunity to express his gratitude, on behalf of the government of
Seychelles, for the successful collaboration in the aforementioned
endeavor. He was reassured by Masdar of further collaboration in the
renewable energy field. Jan 18, 2012
European airline sees launch of Seychelles service as the start of
a love affair A Seychelles delegation headed by Alain St.Ange, the CEO
of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), and Capt David Savy, the Chairman
of the Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), accompanied by Monette Rose, the
Tourism BoardOs Manager for Italy, met with Franco C.B. Pecci, the
Chairman and CEO of Blue Panorama Airlines, Alessandra L.M. Pecci Gizzi,
Remo Della Porta, Vice President Sales, and Francesco Veneziano,
Marketing and Interline Director at the Blue Panorama Airlines Offices,
in Rome, Italy. Following the meeting, the Seychelles delegation has
confirmed to the press that the tropical islands has reestablished
NONSTOP air services into Europe. Mr. Franco C.B. Pecci, the Chairman
and CEO of Blue Panorama Airline, has confirmed that their first direct
weekly flight to Seychelles will leave from Milan and Rome on February
14. This ValentineOs Day flight is set to leave Italy at 6:00 pm from
Milan and Rome at 8:10 pm to arrive in Seychelles at 7:25 am on February
15. A special promotional fare has been launched for this ValentineOs
Day flight to the paradise islands of the Seychelles. Blue Panorama
Airline is seeing the launch of their Seychelles service at Valentine
Day as the start of a love affair with Seychelles. Blue Panorama Airline

is set to increase their weekly service to the Seychelles to two flights
as from July this year. Italy remains the second main tourism market for
Seychelles, and the void of a direct NONSTOP flight will help to not
only consolidate the market, but also help to grow it. As they were
confirming their flight service to the Seychelles, the management of
Blue Panorama Airline has said that they were now only waiting to
receive final details of handling charges from Air Seychelles to
finalize all their operational costs. They were thankful for the support
and for the cooperation they have received from the Civil Aviation
Authority and the islandOs Tourism Board. Alain St.Ange, CEO of the
Seychelles Tourism Board, has said that the Seychelles islands
experience is now accessible as never before. OThe hotels and resorts in
Seychelles are today offering rates that reflect an across-the-board
range, making Seychelles more accessible than ever before. The addition
by the Blue Panorama Airline, an Italian company, on the Seychelles run,
brings a new dimension of accessibility, as they will provide new flight
options from Italy to the mid-ocean tropical islands over and above the
twelve weekly flights by Emirates, seven by Qatar, and four by Etihad,O
Alain St.Ange said. Jan 18, 2012
AFRAA joins China, U.S. in opposing EU trading scheme The African
Airlines Association has publicly come out against the European
Union's emissions-trading scheme. Trading could get ugly; some are
already saying they want to punish the EU by boosting trade between
countries that oppose the scheme and "sidelining European attempts
to get rich mineral and mining concessions in Africa." Jan 16, 2012
India may review EU perks as a result of air tax India says it may

review whether to keep benefits under the Horizontal Aviation Agreement
to airlines in Europe. The move comes after the EU announced its
emissions-trading scheme, which adds a tax to airlines coming into or
out of airports in the European Union to cover their carbon dioxide
emissions. Jan 16, 2012
AAR Airlift Reports Helicopter Accident in Afghanistan AAR
Airlift, an operating unit of Chicago based AAR CORP. reports that a
helicopter carrying a crew of three employees was involved in an
accident in Helmand Province, Afghanistan at approximately 10:45 a.m.,
local time, January 16, while conducting operations for the U.S.
Department of Defense. The Company has confirmed that there were three
crew member fatalities. The families of all three crew members have been
contacted. The Company reports that no passengers were aboard the
aircraft at the time of the accident. Company officials are working
closely and cooperating fully with authorities in Afghanistan and
stateside. A recovery effort is underway and the cause of the accident
is unknown. Additional information will be provided as it becomes
available. The Company is focused on its employees and their families. A
dedicated hotline has been set up for employees and family members at
(321) 837-2427 for updates and support information. AAR Airlift is a
provider of expeditionary airlift services and specialized aircraft
modifications for defense and humanitarian relief operations. Under
current contracts, the Company provides airlift for the Department of
Defense (DoD) in three regions around the world, using both fixed-wing
aircraft and rotary-wing aircraft to transport personnel, supplies and
mail. www.aarcorp.com Jan 16, 2012

Chinese tennis superstar lures Asian tourists to Australia The
success of Chinese tennis superstar Li Na in Australia has started a
boom in Asian visitors that could be "more valuable than
Oprah" for tourism. Australian Open officials confirmed yesterday
that fifth seed Li has been the driving force behind a 30 per cent rise
in ticket sales to China for this year's event. She has also played
a significant role in a 400 per cent rise in visitors from the
Asia-Pacific since 2004. Li made a historic first grand slam final
appearance by a Chinese player at the Australian Open last year,
generating a frenzy in her home country, before going on to win the
French Open. She has continued her red-hot form in 2012, making the
final of last week's Apia International in Sydney, in a field
featuring nine of the world's top 10 players, and winning her
Australian Open first-round match yesterday. Tourism and Transport Forum
boss John Lee said the spike in Chinese visitors coming to watch Li in
Australia this year was already benefiting tourism. "The Chinese
fans are not only visiting Melbourne, they will visit Sydney, the
Barrier Reef and Uluru," he said. The bubbly Li was now among the
biggest factors influencing Chinese tourism to Australia.
"She's made a successful start to 2012 and if that continues
Li could be more valuable to Australian tourism than Oprah. Li is one of
the most recognised people in China and she spends a considerable amount
of time in Australia every year," he said. Tennis Australia heavily
promoted the tournament in China last year, with local celebrities like
the country's Miss Universe entrant Luo Zilin and pop star Li
Xiaoyun acting as ambassadors and generating media coverage. Mr Lee said

this would help to reinforce what he dubs "the Li effect" -
claiming she could even displace Kim Clijsters in the affections of
Australians. "Aussie Kim may be in the past now," he said.
"When you look at our emerging relationship with China, it might
soon become 'Aussie Li'. "About 53 million Chinese people
left their country on a holiday last year. "Of that, 500,000 came
to Australia. That number could easily double within five years helped
by the Li factor." Mr Lee said he was now praying for a Li victory.
"I don't want to diss Sam Stosur, but I've got my fingers
crossed Li could even go one step further than last year, for the free
publicity it would give Australia." Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood
said last night Li's success had driven interest in the tournament
in Asia to an all time high. "We see enormous growth potential
through partnerships with major Chinese companies and government,"
he said. "For example, we've signed a deal with Chinese
company Erke, an organisation with 8,000 retail outlets in China, to
launch an Australian Open tennis merchandise range." Jan 16, 2012
China Mouse-Click OWarO Begins as New Year Travel Overwhelms Rail
Website Kevin Zhang has enlisted four friends in Beijing to help with
possibly hours of mouse-clicking tonight. Their task -- booking his
Lunar New Year train tickets. Zhang needed more than 50 attempts to
book seats online earlier this month, he said, as the rail ministryOs
website struggled to cope with 1 billion hits a day in the run-up to
next weekOs Lunar New Year holiday. Round two begins today as tickets
for travel at the end of the weeklong break, ChinaOs busiest travel
period, start going on sale. OI am prepared for a tough war,O said

Zhang, 30, a marketing-company manager, who wants seats from the eastern
city of Hefei to Beijing. He plans to try logging on to the website at
home, while his friends make similar attempts elsewhere. The ministry
has made improvements after its website was overwhelmed by a 10-fold
jump in visitor numbers that left millions of travelers clicking in
frustration. The rail network will handle 5.88 million trips a day
through Feb. 16 as migrant workers travel home to visit their families,
according to the ministry. Rail tickets for the period are being sold
online for the first time this year as the government tries to curb
queues at stations and counter black-market sales. The ministry also
reduced the number of seats on sale at stations, boosted the amount
available via a sales phone line, and began printing passenger names on
tickets. OIt Was TerribleO Ginny Chen got help from two co-workers and
her parents to make an online reservation for a journey to her hometown,
Xuzhou, from Shanghai. It still took about an hour before any of them
were able to complete a transaction. OI experienced all kinds of
failures and apology messages, it was terrible,O said Chen, 24. OWhen I
bought the ticket, I couldnOt believe it. I screamed in the office and
felt like I had hit the jackpot.O Chen, who works at a textile company,
is already planning to get more help from her family when she tries to
book her return journey. Bad weather also threatens to disrupt Lunar
New Year travel, with a cold front bringing snow and rain across much of
the country, China News Services said today, citing the Central
Meteorological Observatory. Rain and fog delayed operations on the
high-speed line between Beijing and Shanghai on Jan. 14, according to
the official Xinhua News Agency. 12-Day Rule The surge in website

traffic has been exacerbated by a rule allowing bookings only within 12
days of the travel date. That will be extended to two weeks for
purchases made on some days around Lunar New Year Eve, Jan. 22, Xinhua
said today, citing an unidentified railway ministry official.
Transactions on the website reached as many as 1.66 million a day at the
beginning of the month, compared with a designed capability of 1
million, an unidentified railway official told Xinhua in a Jan. 13
report. The ministry added more bandwidth and sought advice from a
local e-commerce company, which helped improve performance, the official
told Xinhua. Systems for handling bookings and payments will also be
separated, PeopleOs Daily said today, without citing anyone. The
ministry didnOt reply to a fax asking for more details on the changes to
the site, which is called www.12306.cn after the phone number used to
make reservations. Taobao.com, ChinaOs biggest online shopping website,
had 774 million daily hits on average last month, according to data from
Google Inc. About 2 million rail tickets a day were sold online or by
phone from Jan. 1 to Jan. 8, Vice Railway Minister Hu Yadong, said at a
Jan. 8 press conference in Beijing. ONot PerfectO ONot everything
worked perfectly and we apologize for the inconvenience,O he said. OThe
new services were introduced in response to the general publicOs call
for more open and fairer ticket purchases.O The start of online ticket
sales has also allowed some passengers to avoid the traditional need to
wait for hours at stations during the often snowy Chinese winter. The
website Ois a pain, but it is still better than lining up outside a
train station overnight,O Zhang said. Not all agree. Huang Qinghong, a
driver in Wenzhou, eastern Zhejiang province, wrote an open letter to

the rail ministry complaining that online sales gave the poor less
chance of purchasing tickets as they donOt have access to computers. Web
buyers also generally have a two-day head start as tickets only go on
sale at stations 10 days before travel dates. Huang was given airline
tickets for his Lunar New Year trip to Chongqing city by the local
newspaper that published his letter. The Shanghai Rail Bureau, which
oversees trains in Wenzhou, also said it would improve services for
low-skilled migrant workers after the letter, Xinhua reported on Jan. 5,
citing an unidentified official. Futile Wait Lining up at 2 a.m.
didnOt work last year for Huang Shiqing, a designer of online games in
Beijing, who was still unable to get the tickets he wanted because of
scalpers, he said. His annual journey back to Ganzhou, Jiangxi province
takes two days of train and bus rides. This year, he turned to the
Internet, trying out different Web browsers and payment methods before
buying a ticket. Tomorrow, he plans to be in the office as early as 6
a.m. to take advantage of his employerOs faster Internet connection. A
friend will also try the website beginning at around the same time and
another will call the telephone hotline. OIOm not taking any chances,O
Huang said. OGetting back home is the most important thing for me.O
Jan 16, 2012
Air China Air China begins replacing 747s with 777s on US routes.
Air China will debut its Boeing 777-300ER Feb. 1, on the Los Angeles
(LAX)-Beijing (PEK) night flight, replacing a 747-400. Air China, which
is the only carrier to provide nonstop service between the two cities,
doubled the daily service in September. It will go one step further to
enhance the route in June when it plans to upgrade the 747-400 day

flight between LAX and PEK to the 777-300ER. The aircraftOs three-class
configuration includes eight first-class suites, 41 lie-flat
business-class seats and 259 economy seats. Personal power outlets are
available in all three cabins, the carrier noted. Beginning later this
year and in early 2013, Air China expects to upgrade its
747-400-operated New York and San Francisco routes to 777-300ER
aircraft. Boeing delivered the first 777-300ER to CA in July, the first
of an order for 19. Jan 20, 2012
Air China Air China receives capital injection from Beijing for
sustainable developmen. The Chinese government has given Air China a
CNY50.7 million (USD8.04 million) capital injection for the carrierOs
sustainable development. According to a CA statement released by the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange Tuesday, the funds will be used to install
winglets on its fleet and improve fuel efficiencies of its aircraft
engines. It is the first time the Chinese government has funded the
domestic carrierOs environment protection efforts. Because of volatile
fuel prices and the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
that was implemented Jan. 1. Chinese carriers are aiming to reduce their
carbon emissions 22% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. CA said it was
taking the lead among Chinese airlines to become the more
environmentally friendly carrier. In October, it became the first
Chinese carrier to conduct a biofuel demonstration flight, operating a
Boeing 747-400 with Pratt Whitney PW4000 engines partially powered
by jatropha-based fuel. CA has also ordered more fuel-efficient
aircraft, including the 787 and 747-8. Jan 18, 2012
AirAsia X AirAsia X to bring 55000 extra tourists to Sydney.

Around 55,000 extra tourists could be heading to NSW each year after
budget airline AirAsia X announced it will begin daily flights to Sydney
in mid-2012. NSW Tourism Minister George Souris says the new service
from Kuala Lumpur will begin in mid-2012 and will eventually bring
around 55,000 more international visitors to the state a year.
'This daily service will inject nearly USD138 million into NSW
every year and is another great step towards the NSW Government's
goal of doubling overnight tourism expenditure by 2020,' Mr Souris
said. AirAsia X, a long-haul offshoot of Asia's largest budget
airline, AirAsia, has been lobbying to fly into Sydney for four years.
The new service will aim to capitalise on the growing Malaysian market.
In the year ending September 2011, visitor expenditure to NSW from
Malaysia totalled USD142 million, an increase of more than 75 per cent
on the previous year. Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy
said Malaysia was a critical market. '(Malaysia) now represents
Australia's 7th largest (market) and one of our fastest
growing,' Mr McEvoy said. 'An average Malaysian tourist in
Australia now spends almost USD4,700 during their stay and, vitally,
they are amongst the highest repeat visitors to our country.'
Asian markets such as Malaysia would play an increasingly important part
in achieving Australian tourism's year 2020 goal of doubling
overnight visitor expenditure to USD140 billion, Mr McEvoy said.
Tourism Australia believes the Malaysian market, with existing annual
expenditure of around USD1.1 billion, has the potential to increase to
up to USD2.5 billion by 2020. AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani said he
was delighted Sydney would be joining the airline's network.

'It's been a long time coming, but we are thrilled to announce
that AirAsia is spreading its wings in Australia and finally jetting in
to Sydney,' Mr Osman-Rani said. Jan 18, 2012
Airbus, EASA, Qantas Airways, China Southern Airlines, Singapore
Airlines,
More cracks found in Airbus A380 wings. Airbus said on Thursday it
had discovered more cracks in the wings of two A380 superjumbo aircraft
but insisted the world's largest jetliner remained safe to fly. The
announcement comes two weeks after tiny cracks were first reported in
the wings of the 525-seat, double-decker aircraft, which entered service
just over four years ago. "Airbus confirms that some additional
cracks have been found on a limited number of non-critical brackets ...
inside the wings of some A380s," the planemaker said in a
statement. "Airbus emphasizes that these cracks do not affect the
safe operation of the aircraft." The European Aviation Safety
Authority (EASA) confirmed it would issue a bulletin Friday mandating
precautionary checks. The latest cracking problem was discovered in two
aircraft during a routine two-year inspection, an Airbus spokeswoman
said. She declined to name the operators of the aircraft. No superjumbos
have been grounded but the most heavily used aircraft -- those subjected
to at least 1,800 take-offs and landings that impose the most strain on
an airframe -- must be examined within four days, authorities said.
Airlines operating Airbus SAS (EAD)Os A380 superjumbo must ground 20
planes or almost one-third of the world fleet within the next six weeks
to check for wing cracks. Carriers with A380s that have accumulated
more than 1,300 takeoffs and landings must make the inspections, and any

planes that have made more than 1,800 trips need to be checked within
four days, the European Aviation Safety Agency said today. Singapore
Airlines Ltd. (SIA), Air France and Emirates will need to take action
soonest, based on flight figures, with the work likely to take up to 24
hours, according to the Asian carrier, which said six of its jets
require scrutiny in the near term. EASA ordered the checks after the
discovery of cracks in one wing led to detection of more serious
fractures in other planes. OThis condition, if not detected and
corrected, could potentially affect the structural integrity of the
aeroplane,O the safety organization said in todayOs airworthiness
directive. OThe new form of cracking is more significant.O The visual
examinations donOt require special gear and should be completed in a
matter of hours, according to Airbus. Singapore Air spokesman Nicholas
Ionides said planes could be still be out for a service for as much as a
day, though there shouldnOt be any impact on operations. Out of its
fleet of 15 A380s, another four will need checks within the six-week
period. OReasonably NormalO EASA issued its notice after Singapore Air
and Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN) found the additional cracks in A380
wing-rib feet. The fissures, while Oembarrassing,O pose no danger to
passengers flying on the 68 A380s currently in service, Airbus Chief
Executive Officer Tom Enders said late yesterday. The European Aviation
Safety Agency acted after European planemaker Airbus disclosed two sets
of cracks on its A380s just two weeks apart, and barely four years after
the 525-seat double-decker passenger jet entered service. The second
type of cracks, which like the first appeared on a bracket joining the
exterior to metal ribs inside the wings, was "more

significant" and could develop on other aircraft if the problem is
not addressed, the Cologne-based agency said. "This condition, if
not detected and corrected, could potentially affect the structural
integrity of the aeroplane," EASA said in an airworthiness
directive issued on Friday. Inspectors ordered checks within six weeks
for another category of aircraft with a history of 1,300 to 1,800
cycles. In total, the two-speed recommendations cover 20 aircraft
including 10 from Singapore Airlines, seven from Emirates, one from Air
France and two test planes, according to a published list of serial
numbers at a380production.com. Experts say engineers must carry out
visual checks by climbing inside the ribcage of each UK-built wing. The
process is expected to take each jet out of service for about 24 hours.
Airbus said the order demonstrated the "airworthiness process is
working" and reiterated the aircraft is safe to fly. It has
dismissed calls to ground the jets but the Australian engineering union
which handles routine servicing and engine checks on superjumbos
operated by Qantas Airways said it was concerned about the speed of the
planemaker's response. "They have described these as tiny
cracks, but every crack starts off as a tiny crack and they can grow
very quickly," said Stephen Purvinas, federal secretary of the
Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association who has called for
the grounding. The discovery comes 14 months after a Rolls-Royce engine
blowout on a Qantas A380 triggered global headlines. It was during a
USD130 million repair job on that same aircraft that hairline cracks in
the wing first came to light. Industry sources said the second set of
cracks appeared on aircraft operated by Dubai's Emirates, the

largest A380 customer. Emirates declined comment but said on Thursday it
continued to monitor its fleet and safety was its top priority. EADS
subsidiary Airbus has so far delivered 68 superjumbos, starting with
Singapore Airlines which took the first aircraft in December 2007,
followed by Dubai's Emirates and Qantas Airways of Australia. Other
operators include Air France, Germany's Lufthansa, Korean Air and
China Southern. The latest problems were discovered in the same type of
part as the earlier set of cracks, an L-shaped bracket which connects
the wing's exterior to the internal "rib" structure. A380
wings are manufactured in Broughton, north Wales, and shipped to Airbus
headquarters in Toulouse, France, for final assembly. Industry journal
Air Transport Intelligence said the brackets, known as rib feet, had
been stressed during the manufacturing process and that this was being
fixed. The A380 -- developed at an estimated cost of 12 billion euros
and built in Britain, France, Germany and Spain -- has enough room on
its wings to park 70 cars and a wingspan of 79.8m
(261ft 10in). Jan 19,
2012
Algae.Tec, Shandong Kerui Group Algae.Tec joins
Kerui Group to
make algae biofuel. Algae.Tec announced it will
partner with Chinese
company Shandong Kerui Group in a joint venture that will build a
first-of-its-kind algae biofuels facility in Dongying. Algae.Tec
Executive Chairman Roger Stroud estimates the facility will produce 8.7
million gallons of algae-derived transport oil and 33,000 tons of

biomass per year. Jan 19, 2012
All Nippon Airways, Boeing All Nippon Airways: Tokyo to San Jose.
All Nippon Airways plans to launch Tokyo Narita-San Jose Mineta Boeing
787 service in fiscal year 2012-2013. Jan 16, 2012
Amazon, Apple, Acer, Samsung Amazon, Apple rivals hope to compete
better with the cloud. Companies such as Acer and Samsung Electronics
must concentrate on providing content and services in the computing
cloud in order to keep up with Amazon.com, Apple and Google, according
to analysts. "Everybody wants to be Apple, but nobody can,"
said David Smith, an analyst with Gartner. Jan 16, 2012
American Airlines American will offer free drinks in coach on
international flights. American Airlines will begin offering free beer
and wine to coach customers on international flights between the U.S.
and Europe, Asia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The new policy
takes effect Feb. 1. "Our customers asked for complimentary beer
and wine, and we listened," said American's vice president of
marketing, Rob Friedman. Jan 20, 2012
American Airlines TSA will launch PreCheck screening for American
flights at LAX. This week, American Airlines travelers flying out of Los
Angeles International Airport will have the opportunity to participate
in the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program.
The travelers will move more quickly through security in exchange for
providing personal information. "The screening approach is based
primarily on the fact that the majority of airline passengers are
low-risk," TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said. "The TSA has been
undertaking efforts to focus our resources and improve the passenger

experience by implementing new, risk-based security screening
procedures." Jan 18, 2012
AOptix Technologies Iris Recognition Leader AOptix Opens New
Singapore Office. AOptix Technologies, Inc., a leading developer of
advanced biometrics-based identity solutions, today announced the
opening of their latest sales office in the Republic of Singapore. Led
by Anthony Hay, Director of Asia Pacific Sales, AOptix will serve their
Asia Pacific customers from this new office central to India, Malaysia,
Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
OWith the growing interest in securing airports and borders in the Asia
Pacific region, the Singapore office is an important element of our
global sales and support strategy,O says Dale Bastian, Vice President of
Sales for AOptix. OAnthony Hay brings a tremendous amount of experience
in this industry from his recent positions with Daon and NEC.O
Providing thousands of conclusive identity checks every day at airports
and borders around the world, the AOpitx InSight is uniquely well suited
to biometric e-Gates where speed, accuracy, and consistency of operation
are critical. And, as it is fully automated, the InSight is simple and
intuitive even for non-technical or non-acclimated users. These
capabilities enable future-facing applications such as registered
traveler programs for expedited immigration, trusted traveler programs
for airport security checkpoints, and automated boarding pass
authentication. AOptix offers a growing family of biometric products,
including the InSight[umlaut] Duo, the worldOs first biometric system
with simultaneous ISO standards-compliant iris and face capture.
Positioned to meet the high throughput requirements of border and

aviation security while providing a superior user experience, the
InSight Duo delivers effortless iris and face capture within seconds
from a distance of 2 meters. Attendees of Airport Security Asia 2012
will see a demonstration of InSight Duo at the AOptix booth, February
27-28 at the Prince Hotel Residence, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Jan
16, 2012
Apple, Samsung, HTC, RIM, Motorola Analysts: Most phone makers
will battle price erosion. The sagging global economy will likely
discourage people from updating their cellphones this year, putting a
crimp in manufacturers' revenues, analysts predict, saying only
strong brands such as Apple and Samsung will escape unscathed. "We
expect smartphone demand to have remained robust in the fourth quarter,
but price erosion is intensifying," said CCS Insight's Geoff
Blaber. HTC, Research In Motion and Motorola Mobility have already
warned of fourth-quarter 2011 weakness. Jan 19, 2012
AVIC AVIC reports 18.8% increase in 2011 net profit. The Aviation
Industry Corp. of China(AVIC) reported a net profit of CNY12.2 billion
(USD1.94 billion) in 2011, up 18.8% over a net income of CNY10.3 billion
in 2010. Operating revenue increased 23% to CNY258.1 billion, according
to AVIC GM Lin Zuoming. Industry analysts said the Osuccessful
acquisitions of companies home and abroadO contributed to the improved
results. In the past three years, AVIC has acquired 58 companies home
and abroad, which increased operating revenue by CNY50 billion and
boosted net income by CNY600 million in 2011. AVIC said it is committed
to pushing forward with overseas acquisitions in the future. OOur first
goal is to target foreign aviation companies and to acquire relevant

manufacturing enterprises, including automobile components manufacturing
companies, [which is] our second goal,O Lin said. Going forward, AVIC
expects to boost operating revenue by 16.2% to CNY300 billion and
increase net profit by 23% to CNY15 billion. AVIC may also launch an
initial public offering on Shanghai Stock Exchange in the near future.
Jan 20, 2012
Bali Bali growing into popular port of call for large cruise
ships. On Monday, January 16, Bali registered a new record when the
huge, 264-meter MV Legend of the Seas cruise ship carrying 2,300
passengers, berthed alongside the pier at Benoa harbor in South Bali.
Passengers stayed to enjoy the bewitching island for three days from
January 16-18, 2012. This is the first time that a cruise ship of this
length and capacity could enter the narrow channel, and berth alongside
the pier since this was extended, ready to cater to longer ships. The
channel was deepened to 12 meters and also widened to 150 meters to
allow ships to maneuver, explained Iwan Sabatini, General Manager of
Pelindo Benoa, in charge of Bali harbors. Bali has become a popular
destination for cruise ships, both on long around-the-world voyages, as
well as on regional cruising, continued Iwan. In 2011, a total of 35
cruise ships called on Benoa, exceeding the original target of 28 ships
to this port last year. For 2012, Benoa is expected to receive at least
38 cruise ships with 8 ships calling at Tanah Ampo in East Bali. Another
Bali harbor is Celukan Bawang, where the Seaborn Adventure cruise ship
will call on January 22. In January, the Spirit of Adventure, carrying
264 passengers, called on Benoa, as did the Azamara with 800 passengers
last December, as well as the 160-meter Athena with 518 passengers. More

regional ships are now also making Bali a turnaround port, serving among
others, destinations between Australia and Bali, calling on Komodo
Island and islands in the Maluku and Papua archipelagos. Iwan was also
proud to announce that Benoa Bali received OThe Best Port WelcomeO award
among the Dream Awards given by Dream Destinations magazine in the UK.
Jan 20, 2012
BBI MEDIA Former President of Seychelles gets first documentary
screening in Australia. The final version of the documentary,
OSeychelles Global Citizen [ETH] The Life and Times of Sir James R.
Mancham,O produced by BBI MEDIA, Australia, was shown for the first time
in Australia on January 6, 2012 at a reception hosted by its producer,
Ben Boultbee, at his Brisbane residence. Mr. Boultbee, who had just
returned from Singapore, announced that the film has been shortlisted
among six other documentaries for Super pitch at the Singapore Asian
Pacific Television award convention 2012. The first edition of the
documentary was privately shown to selected audiences in Seychelles last
year, before it was known that former President Mancham had won the Gusi
Peace prize 2011 for statesmanship. The final edition of the
documentary, which was shown on January 6, culminates with the Gusi
Peace Prize awards ceremony, which took place on November 24, 2011 at
the Phillippines Convention Center in Manila. According to Garry Gibson
of Epix Productions and former producer of Australian Channel Nine TV
network, who was a guest at the Brisbane reception, there is a growing
interest in Australia in a documentary of this kind as the Australians
reflect on their colonial history as part of the on-going debate towards
the treatment of their Aboriginal people. Mr. Boultbee said that the

documentary will be commercially released in London by the end of
January 2012. Mr. Mancham, who was loudly applauded after the show for
his national reconciliation policy in Seychelles and his world wide
peace efforts, said that as soon as the documentary is released he will
make sure that SBC television gets a copy so that the people of the
Seychelles will have the opportunity to appreciate or criticize what it
is about in the interest of our history and transparency. Jan 16, 2012
Best Western International India places high in Best
Western's expansion scheme, CEO says. Best Western International
and a host of international hotel chains are eyeing India as one of the
top Asian countries ripe for expansion, owing to its burgeoning economic
development and strong potential in the leisure and business travel
segments, said Best Western President and CEO David Kong, in this
interview with Business Standard. "So, looking at the growing
economy and the future potential, we are making investments in the hotel
industry for the long run. In fact, for the long run, the potential of
India in the hospitality segment is tremendous," Kong said. Jan 16,
2012
Binna Burra BrisbaneOs Binna Burra Eco Resort Adds Sky Lodges. In
February, Binna Burra Mountain Lodge will open its new Sky Lodges, which
are self-contained apartments that sleep from one to 10 people in
studio, one, two or three bedrooms for singles, couples, families and
groups. Each has its own fireplace and spa bath, and the views from
every Sky Lodge are breathtaking. Though the Sky Lodges appeal to those
who prefer a more contemporary alternative to traditional Binna Burra,
guests can still access the historic Lodge and the Clifftop Dining Room.

Binna Burra Mountain Lodge combines a mountain getaway with the
opportunity to explore a rainforest environment. Binna Burra is located
outside of Brisbane. The Lodge provides accommodation for a limited
number of guests in heritage-listed lodges with the original buildings
built from hand-cut tallow wood slabs. Some of the cabins date back to
when the Lodge was first established in the early 1930s. All rooms offer
tea- and coffee-making facilities, heaters, fans, are non-smoking, and
are serviced daily. Televisions and telephones, clocks and radios are
available in the Lodge, but not in guest rooms. Two styles of
accommodation are available at The Lodge. Acacia rooms offer panoramic
mountain views or rainforest views and each has its own balcony.
Acacia's have private shower and toilet facilities and have either
queen, double, twin beds or can sleep larger families. Casuarina rooms
are heritage guesthouse style rooms nestled amidst native gardens. These
original rooms were designed just to be slept in, as the rest of the
time was spent socializing in the guest lounges and enjoying the
facilities of the Lodge. Casuarina rooms offer comfortable beds plus a
wash basin vanity unit. Separate bathroom facilities close to rooms on
the same level are shared by just a small number of other guests. Guests
participate in free daily activities program of guided walks, experience
the adventure activities or explore the National Park at their leisure.
Jan 19, 2012
Blue Panorama, Seychelles Tourism Board Filling the vacuum of
lost air service from Seychelles to Europe. In line with SeychellesO
ongoing drive to increase air access to the country after the cessation
of Air SeychellesO flights to European destinations, Alain St. Ange, CEO

of the Seychelles Tourism Board, and Bernadette Wilemin, SeychellesO
Tourism BoardOs Director for Europe, held discussions with Franco C.B.
Pecci, Chairman and CEO of Blue Panorama Airlines, and the companyOs
Vice President of Sales, Remo Della Porta, concerning future cooperation
in ensuring the success of the new Blue PanoramaOs service to
Seychelles. The Italian Airline Company, Blue Panorama, has confirmed
that they will start a weekly NONSTOP direct flight to Seychelles from
Rome and Milan effective from February 14. From July, the airline will
increase the their schedule to two weekly flights. OIn these challenging
times, when cessation of service by Air Seychelles to Europe has created
a vacuum of air access in certain of our core markets, it is essential
that we quickly move to fill that vacuum and keep Seychelles very much
in the sight of European consumers,O explained Alain St. Ange. This
meeting with Blue Panorama forms part of a strategy to secure direct
NONSTOP air access to Seychelles from Europe and it can now also be
confirmed that discussions with Air Austral are now in their final stage
concerning two NONSTOP, direct flights between Paris and Seychelles,
expected to commence in March 2012. Jan 19, 2012
Boeing Boeing to Build More Wideband Global SATCOM Satellites for
US Air Force. Boeing has received authorization from the U.S. Air Force
to produce and launch the eighth and ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)
satellites. The WGS-9 authorization and the WGS-8 production option,
which was authorized last month, have a combined value of USD673 million
and are part of the USD1.09 billion contract modification announced by
the Air Force in September 2011. "With these options exercised,
we are able to expand the WGS constellation and provide communications

resiliency for combatant commanders worldwide," said Craig Cooning,
vice president and general manager of Boeing Space Intelligence
Systems. "This will give warfighters the ability to ensure that
vital communication links are available at all times, even in the event
that one or more critical nodes are disabled." WGS-8 and -9 will
join four other satellites that are part of the Block II series. Block
II adds a switchable radio frequency bypass that enables the
transmission of airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
imagery at data rates approximately three times greater than the rates
available on Block I satellites. WGS-9 is being funded through a
cooperative agreement that the U.S. Air Force has forged with Canada,
Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and New Zealand. This expands the
WGS international partnership beyond WGS-6, which was funded by the
Australian government in 2008. "International participation in
WGS is a win-win arrangement on many levels," said Cooning.
"Use of common SATCOM systems provides communications
interoperability between allied forces. For the U.S. military, the
partners bring additional funding to expand the constellation and make
it more resilient. And for a relatively modest investment, international
partners receive immediate access to worldwide services that they might
not otherwise be able to obtain." WGS satellites are built on the
proven Boeing 702HP platform, which features highly efficient xenon-ion
propulsion, deployable thermal radiators, and advanced triple-junction
gallium-arsenide solar arrays that enable high-capacity, flexible
payloads. The WGS communications payload has unique flexibility that is
important to the military, as well as the ability to interconnect

terminals that operate in different frequency bands and to reposition
coverage beams based on evolving mission needs. WGS supports missions
including tactical communications to and between ground forces, and
relaying data and imagery from airborne intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance platforms. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense,
Space Security is one of the world's largest defense, space
and security businesses specializing in innovative and
capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and
most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St.
Louis, Boeing Defense, Space Security is a USD32 billion business
with 63,000 employees worldwide. Jan 18, 2012
Boeing, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Coming to Bangkok, Singapore for Third Segment of Dream Tour. Boeing
will begin the third segment of the 787 Dream Tour next month with two
stops in Asia. The all-new Dreamliner will visit Bangkok, Thailand and
Singapore where customers, partners, government officials and media will
experience the revolutionary technology and passenger innovation
firsthand. "We look forward to showcasing the game-changing
technologies of the 787 to our valued customers and partners in the
Asia-Pacific region," said Scott Fancher, vice president and
general manager, 787 program. The February schedule includes the
following stops: Feb. 9-11: Bangkok, Thailand to visit Thai Airways
International. Feb. 11-18: Singapore to visit Singapore Airlines and to
be on display at the Singapore Airshow. The Dream Tour airplane, ZA003,
is outfitted with the 787's special cabin features including a
welcoming entryway, dramatically larger dimmable windows, bigger bins

and dynamic LED lighting. The airplane is configured with a luxurious
business-class cabin, an overhead crew rest compartment and an economy
class section. Dates and locations for additional tour stops will be
announced approximately one month in advance. At the stops, local media
will have the opportunity to participate in tours of the airplane and
discussions with Boeing executives and pilots. Jan 19, 2012
Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity, Disney, Oceania Fewer ship
deployments in 2012 mark slowdown in economy. The cruise industry's
expansion is slowing this year with only seven large vessels entering
the market, reflecting the economic difficulties at the time that they
were ordered. Four of the vessels -- owned by Carnival, Celebrity,
Disney and Oceania -- will enter service around Florida, and the other
three will undertake European voyages. The growth of the river cruise
industry goes on unabated as new operators in Europe and the U.S. launch
many new vessels. Jan 16, 2012
Centara Pattaya Hotel Experience the newly-opened Centara Pattaya
Hotel and enjoy special rates. The newly-opened Centara Pattaya Hotel is
offering introductory rates for each of its room categories between now
and March 31, with breakfast included. Rates begin at Bt2,450 for a
Deluxe Room, with Family Studio, 1-Bedroom Suites, and 2-Bedroom Suites
also available. The introductory rates are on the basis of 2 people
sharing, and up to 2 children under the age of 12 years, sharing their
parentsO room, with bedding included at no extra charge. Extra bedding
can be provided at an additional fee. All rates are subject to a 10
percent service charge and 7 percent government tax. The special rates
are not applicable to group reservations and reservations for meetings,

incentives, conventions, and exhibitions. Located in Central Pattaya,
the newly-built Centara Pattaya Hotel is a four-star property that
offers understated luxury along with a range of facilities that includes
a fitness center and a swimming pool, complete with dedicated pool bar.
A wide choice of shopping and dining experiences is to be found in the
immediate vicinity. Jan 20, 2012
Chatwal Hotels Resorts, Hampshire Hotels Resorts,
Wyndham Chatwal Hotels to Bring Dream, Night Brands to India. A year
after a major announcement to partner with Wyndham Hotels, Chatwal
Hotels ResortsO management arm, Hampshire Hotels Resorts,
announced an expansion plan in India intended to grow the Dream and
Night brands worldwide. A five-year plan is intended to unveil 52 hotels
(40 Night hotels and 12 Dream hotels) in India. Currently courting
franchise and management opportunities for both these brands, the
initial launch sites will be a Dream resort in Goa and IndiaOs first
location for Night in Chennai. These will be followed by New Delhi and
Mumbai along with Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur and Udaipur.
Dream and Night hotels are currently in operation in New York, Miami,
Bangkok, Thailand and Cochin, India, and its international expansion
plans include hotels in Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Zagreb, Sao
Paulo and 10 other properties in the U.S. including Los Angeles. Chatwal
Hotels Resorts have already invested more than USD180 million in
India and have another equity investment of more than USD300 million
planned that will go towards setting up of initial infrastructure
towards operation of the large chain. The Night brand, which Chatwal
plans to develop in primary and secondary markets, will be positioned as

an Oaffordably chicO hotel option featuring services such as guest DJs
in lounges and gourmet quick-serve food and beverage options. Developers
will be able to adapt the product to both full-service and
limited-service models that offer a ground floor Oliving areaO with an
attractive space for social interaction. The Dream brand is positioned
as a full-service, lifestyle brand for gateway cities and resort
destinations. The progressive service offerings will emulate those of
luxury hotels, but with a more relaxed point of view. Both the Dream and
Night brands are the brainchild of hotelier Vikram Chatwal. Current
Dream and Night locations include the 316-room Dream Downtown in New
YorkOs Meatpacking district; the 216-room Dream New York in midtown
Manhattan; the 72-room urban Night Hotel in Manhattan; the 108-room
Dream South Beach in Miami; the 195-room Dream Hotel Bangkok; and the
151-room Dream Cochin, located in Ernakulum City, the commercial capital
of Kerala, India. Jan 19, 2012
Cheapflights Cheapflights Declares a 'War on Gloom'.
Rising APD, a dire economy and the post-Christmas blues all combine to
make January an even duller month than usual this year. However, in
spite of those factors, Cheapflights.co.uk, the online leader in deals
publishing, found in a recent survey that travel is still a priority for
83 per cent of the 15,000 Brits who participated. In fact, they're
cutting back in other areas of expenditure to protect their travel
budget. Cheapflights.co.uk is therefore waging a 'War on
Gloom' (#DefyTheGloom) by declaring travel to be the perfect
antidote for beating the January blues with its list of Top 25 Cheap and
Cheerful destinations. "Are you fed up of reading gloomy

headlines? So are we. We know that UK consumers are cutting back
elsewhere to save up for a holiday. At Cheapflights we decided we could
help and declared our 'War on Gloom.' Together we can beat it!
We have some great Cheap and Cheerful destinations and above all the
widest range of cheap flight deals to help you escape. Click your mouse
and grab your bucket and spade to take a stand for holiday cheer,"
says Hugo Burge, CEO for Cheapflights Media. To compile the Top 25
list, Cheapflights.co.uk took its 100 most popular destinations from
December and calculated their affordability and appeal based on a
combination of factors: return flights, weather in January and February,
recent currency performance, ground costs and third party rankings on
safety for visitors. The list is a combination of mainly exotic,
long-haul destinations where the sun shines most of the year and ground
costs are incredibly low. There are a few European destinations in the
mix such as Prague, Amsterdam and Dublin, but our top five are all a bit
of a trek -- however, they are great places to get away for a fun,
affordable and off-the-beaten path experience. Following these five was
a list of great spots within India all scoring the same since the
weather, costs, airfare deals and other factors were so in sync. As a
result, we ended up counting the country of India as a single Cheap and
Cheerful destination. The top five destinations are: 1. Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam 2. Havana, Cuba 3. Marrakech, Morocco 4. Hanoi, Vietnam
5. Douala, Cameroon With year-round warm weather, a stable safety
record, and incredibly low ground costs, it's no surprise that
Vietnam features twice within the first five destinations. Its two
featured cities are both quite different. Ho Chi Minh City is relatively

young compared to Hanoi. This bustling city is more of a cultural break
than a beach getaway, but it won't disappoint as an experience.
Visitors should be sure to check out attractions like the War Remnants
Museum and dinner cruises on the Saigon River. The older city of Hanoi
offers quite a different experience to Ho Chi Minh. Spirituality and
history set the tone here with a fascinating mix of architecture that
combines French-colonial villas alongside temples that date back to the
11th century. There are more than 600 temples to explore in total and
despite the bustle; the way of life here is calm and greatly appealing
to visitors. Hanoi is also a great base from which to explore other
parts of the country such as Ha Long Bay, touring the south or nearby
hikes. This is the perfect place for intrepid travellers and those who
enjoy the outdoors. The attractions of Havana, Cuba, need little
introduction. Year-round sunshine, white sand beaches, great cocktails,
sumptuous food and world famous music combine to offer all the things
most would seek on holiday. The country in general is still relatively
unspoilt given that it has yet to be overridden by tourists, so visitors
will get an authentic Cuban experience and low ground costs mean
it's incredibly cheap. Marrakech is a favourite destination among
Brits and is still climbing in popularity. Despite recent tensions in
countries within the surrounding region, Marrakech's hasn't
been affected and is still very safe. The fact that budget airlines now
fly there means that fares can come in at UKP100 and even less, and
ground costs are spectacularly low once you get there, so it's a
great all round destination. Its warm weather and landscape of
mountains, nearby beaches and unique architecture offers something for

all travel tastes. Culture vultures should start in the Old Town while
visitors in general should head to the famous souks within the city
centre and spend evenings in the many rooftop cafes. Fifth on the list
is Cameroon. While this might be one of the more unexpected
destinations, it actually has a lot to offer the intrepid traveller.
Having passed a law to limit the number of terms a president is allowed
to serve, its PM Paul Biya was removed just last year when the law came
into effect. Presumably, this sign of political change means the country
is opening up to tourism and business. It's still not a major
tourist destination so it gives travellers a glimpse of the "real
Africa." Cameroon offers rainforests, deserts, wildlife parks and
great beaches. Its warm weather, safe environment and incredibly cheap
ground costs combine to make it another ideal Cheap and Cheerful
destination. For the full Top 25 Cheap and Cheerful Destinations along
with ranking analysis and information, visit
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/promos/cheap-and-cheerful-destinations/
To search and compare flights to these or any other destination, visit
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/ The Great Escape - Win your dream trip!
Our Cheap and Cheerful list is meant to inspire people to shake off the
gloom of the season and make true on their travel aspirations. To go one
step further, Cheapflights has also launched The Great Escape giveaway
on Facebook. The winner of this sweepstakes competition will receive
UKP2000 in travel money to plan an escape to a cheap and cheerful
destination of their own choosing. Cheapflights is also giving away
travel must-have Kindles every week in the run up to the grand prize
draw. The contest is open worldwide, so jump and get ready to get away.

Jan 16, 2012
China Airlines China Airlines to end Heathrow-Taiwan flights.
China Airlines has blamed high oil prices and the European debt crisis
for its decision to end the direct flights from Heathrow to Taipei from
March 25. The Taiwan-based carrier currently flies on the route twice a
week but it is now establishing a daily codeshare flight with
KLMKoninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (Royal Aviation Company) the flag
carrier of the Netherlands and a good example of how acronyms can aid
simple discourse. from London to Amsterdam where it will connect with
its existing Amsterdam-Bangkok-Taipei service. China Airlines said that
fuel costs and the eurozoneOs economic problems have affected the
profitability of its direct service to London, which was launched in
March 2010. The airline stopped accepting bookings for its London
service beyond March earlier this month, causing speculations that the
route would be cancelled. The change still needs to be approved by
regulators, but China Airlines expects to begin accepting reservations
for London again after February 15. Passengers who have already booked
the Taipei-London direct flight for after March 25 will be contacted by
the airline about alternative arrangements. A airline source said that
there is a possibility that the direct flight to London will resume when
the carrier receives its fuel-efficient Airbus A350s, which are due to
be delivered in 2015. The Taipei-London route is currently serviced by
the Airbus A340. Jan 20, 2012
Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airlines The Seychelles
IslandsEaccessible as never before. Seychelles has taken the opportunity
to launch its new tourism campaign, OThe Seychelles IslandsEaccessible

as never before,O at the FITUR tourism fair in Madrid, held between
January 18-22, 2012. The new campaign is a reflection of SeychellesO
determination to further raise its profile on the international stage at
a time when it is facing the twin challenges of recession in several of
its core European markets and difficulties with air access following Air
SeychellesO cessation of direct flights to European destinations. OWe
must not forget that tourism is an industry where perceptions play a
strong role in molding consumer opinion,O stated Alain St. Ange, CEO of
the SeychellesO Tourism Board, O...and Seychelles still suffers from the
perception of being an expensive destination and this, at such a time,
is not to our advantage. We must continue to do all our in our power to
build and maintain an image of Seychelles that reflects the wide choice
of accommodation options now on offer and also the fact that Seychelles
remains accessible to travelers, despite the cessation of some of Air
SeychellesO services.O The new tourism campaign plays to SeychellesO
strengths of having a varied basket of accommodation choices for todayOs
visitor, ranging from the pampering comforts of 5-star resorts and the
exclusivity of island resorts, to the homely charms of small hotels,
Creole guesthouses, and self -catering establishments. OTodayOs
accommodation options reflect not only the growing diversity of our
product, but also how Seychelles has something to offer for every
budget,O emphasized St. Ange. The OAccessible as never beforeO campaign
also advertises the fact that the archipelago remains accessible to
travelers through the introduction of two direct, nonstop flights by Air
Austral from Paris to Seychelles, effective from March 2012. This will
be further reinforced by a service from the Italian Airline, Blue

Panorama, commencing on February 14 with one Rome-Milan-Seychelles
sector, extending to two flights a week by July 2012. Also, Ethiopian
Airlines is expected to commence services to Seychelles through its
global network (Africa, Europe, Americas, and the Far East) on April 1,
2012. These services come over and above SeychellesO existing
partnerships with Emirates (12 flights a week to Seychelles); Qatar (7
flights per week to Seychelles); Etihad (4 flights a week to
Seychelles); Condor direct, non-stop from Frankfurt to Seychelles once a
week; Kenya Airways twice a week flights to Seychelles with their
partnership agreements with KLM and Air France; and Air SeychellesO
flights to Mauritius and South Africa. OOur new stance perfectly echoes
the precepts of SeychellesO brand of tourism, in which the small,
independent operator most definitely has a role to play that can only
strengthen SeychellesO appeal to a broader spectrum of consumers,O added
St. Ange. Representatives from Mason's Travel, Seychelles Connect,
and Raffles Resort of Praslin joined the Seychelles Tourism Board's
delegation at Fitur in Madrid in Spain. The Tourism Board's
delegation was headed by Alain St.Ange, and comprised of Bernadette
Willemin, the Board's European Director; Monica Gonzalez, the
Board's Manager in Spain; Glynn Burridge, the Board's Copy
Writer and Consultant; and Ralph Hissen, the Board Manager for
International Cooperation. "Mason's Travel, Seychelles
Connect, and Raffles Resort of Praslin joined the Tourism Board's
efforts to consolidate the Seychelles market in Spain. They want that
business and believe they are prepared for the Spanish Market. We thank
them for their support and for being at Fitur 2012," Alain St.Ange

said in Spain. Jan 19, 2012
FBI, Megaupload FBI shuts down file-sharing site Megaupload. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation on Thursday shut down popular Hong
Kong-based file-sharing site Megaupload, and police arrested four New
Zealand-based employees on charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering
and criminal copyright infringement. The hacker group Anonymous claimed
responsibility for subsequent attacks on the websites of Universal
Music, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Recording Industry
Association of America, saying the attacks were in response to the
FBI's actions. Jan 20, 2012
Futuresource Consulting Study: Internet-connected TVs are
fostering adoption of 3DTV. The growing popularity of Internet-connected
television sets is helping drive adoption of 3DTV technology, since 3D
is often a bundled feature of smart TVs, according to Futuresource
Consulting. The market research firm estimates that 16 million 3DTVs
were shipped last year. Jan 20, 2012
General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler Group LLC, Nissan Motor Auto
Plants at Capacity Buoying All Parts of U.S. Economy: Cars. Bobbi Marsh
puts her 11-year-old son to bed each night and then heads to her job at
General Motors Co. (GM)Os metal-stamping plant in Lordstown, Ohio. She
gets home in time to make him breakfast. Marsh, 34, is one of thousands
of auto workers in the U.S. benefiting from the return of a third shift
at factories -- often from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. -- translating to
24-hour-a-day production at many plants for the first time since the
industry collapse in 2009. At the nadir, some plants ran only one eight-
hour shift. The new third shifts, adding more than 4,300 jobs in four

states at GM alone, bring jobs to the economy and revenue to governments
as well as demand at odd hours for everything from daycare and dentistry
to financial services and food. U.S. auto plants this year may operate
at about 81 percent of capacity after falling as low as 49 percent in
2009, according to estimates from IHS Automotive in Northville,
Michigan. OItOs been great: I can spend all evening with my son,O said
Marsh, 34, a three-year GM employee who lives near the plant about 60
miles southeast of Cleveland. She switched from working evenings to the
overnight shift when it was reinstated last year and sleeps from about 8
a.m. to 2 p.m. OIt does take a different kind of person to work third
shift, but I love it.O Automakers are increasing production at the car
plants after the U.S. light-vehicle sales rose by at least 10 percent
for two straight years for the first time since 1984 and grew at a
faster rate than China, the worldOs biggest auto market, for the first
time in at least 13 years. States that were hard-hit by the downturn,
such as Michigan and Ohio, are among the biggest beneficiaries, adding
jobs at places like RossO Eatery Pub and Tony MOs. 15 Plants GM,
Ford Motor Co. (F), Chrysler Group LLC, Nissan Motor Co. and Kia Motors
Corp. (000270) have either added U.S. production beyond the traditional
two shifts or announced plans to do so at 15 plants, including six in
Michigan, since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy in the middle of
2009. OThereOs no question weOre running full-out,O said Kim Rodriguez,
a principal at KPMGOs auto-consulting business in Detroit. OAfter China,
the U.S. was the market where executives expect the most growth, which
is staggering considering where we were.O Businesses from auto
suppliers to trucking companies are hustling to add capacity and find

new workers to adapt to the increased production, she said. Restaurant
Hours For GM worker Marsh in Ohio, the new job means off-hour grocery
trips to the 24-hour Giant Eagle supermarket and late- night orders from
RossO Eatery Pub, which gets 75 percent of its restaurant business
from the three shifts at the Lordstown complex that builds the Chevrolet
Cruze sedan. The restaurant now runs from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. to
accommodate the new shift, expanding last year from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
OWe had been treading water for what seemed like an eternity -- it was
just me, my mom and my aunt running the placeO during the auto crisis,
said owner Earl Ross, 36. He now employs 20, up from the three family
members just a couple of years ago, to supply the plant with fried
chicken, burgers and his signature USD6.99 Philly steak sandwich. Ohio
added 79,300 jobs through November 2011 from December 2010, an
improvement from a decade when only Michigan among U.S. states lost a
larger percentage of jobs, according to the federal Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Ohio was second in the nation to Michigan in vehicle
production in 2010, according to the state Department of Development.
Market Growing The momentum for added production is expected to
continue this year as auto deliveries may rise about 5.6 percent to 13.5
million, the average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
Vehicle sales rose 11 percent in 2010 and 10 percent last year after
sales fell to a 27-year low of 10.4 million sales in 2009. A third
shift at a Midwestern U.S. auto plant typically requires about 1,000
direct workers and creates about 7,850 spinoff jobs ranging from police
and fire workers to construction, retail and restaurant employees,
according to estimates from the Center for Automotive Research in Ann

Arbor, Michigan. About a third of the positions are within 60 miles of
the plant. Michigan gained 63,500 jobs in 2011, according to the
Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics at the University of
Michigan. It was the first job gain in the state since the turn of the
century. The group predicts a net gain of 26,000 jobs this year, 28,500
in 2013, and 46,800 in 2014. Tony MOs Lasagna The overnight shift at
GMOs sport-utility vehicle factory in Delta Township, Michigan, near the
state capital of Lansing, has meant a 40 percent increase in business at
Tony MOs restaurant nearby, said Stefan Farrell, the general manager at
the eatery that specializes in pizza and lasagna. The restaurant, which
boasts a highly guarded sauce recipe, has expanded the business hours
from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. each day, from the 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. workday
before the third shift was added in 2010, he said. About 15 workers who
drive trucks delivering parts overnight at the plant were eating nearby
as he talked, he said. OWhen GM is down, itOs a ghost town,O said
Farrell, who said last week he personally drove 15 pizzas in one batch
to the factory on a food run. Chrysler and Ford are adding so-called
third crews, which use new workers to allow the plants to operate more
hours of the week by adding rotating crews that include both day and
evening shifts and also include Saturday and Sunday, rather than running
later into the night on a full third shift. Weekend Output Ford will
have four plants in Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois on the three-crew
system within the next year, meaning those plants will run about 120
hours out of the 168 hours possible, instead of the 100 hours for a
two-shift run. ChryslerOs Jeep Grand Cherokee plant in Detroit will add
a similar system next year. The benefits are being felt outside the

traditional Midwestern U.S. auto heartland. Nissan (7201) already runs
three shifts on its Altima sedan assembly line at the Canton,
Mississippi, factory, said Bill Krueger, vice chairman of NissanOs
Americas operations. The automaker is studying a third shift at its
largest North American plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, as well, he said.
OItOs in our future,O Krueger said. SuppliersO Shifts Auto suppliers
nearby are talking about adding third shifts in Rutherford County,
Tennessee, which is home to the Nissan plant and about a 75-minute drive
from VolkswagenOs Chattanooga factory, said Holly Sears, the vice
president of economic development for the Rutherford County Chamber of
Commerce. OEvery single auto supplier weOve talked to recently has a
positive outlook for 2012 and 2013,O she said. West Point, Georgia,
with about 3,500 residents, has seen new hours at dentist offices,
banks, health clubs and other businesses since the Kia (00270) factory
there added a third shift last June, said Randy Jackson, vice president
of human resources at the 3,000-employee operation. NellieOs Day Care
in West Point has added eight to 10 kids who spend the night, a majority
from Kia employees, as the third shift was added, said Bo Barber, 46,
who took over operations for the 24-year-old business from his mother
Nellie about five years ago. A year ago, they had none. The children,
ranging in age from three to seven, may get a light meal before bedtime
and then the staff helps them get ready in the morning, he said. The
overnight business required an additional worker for the daycare center,
which serves a total of about 46 kids on all three shifts with six
employees, Barber said. Investors have been talking about opening
another daycare center in the area to cater to workers on all three

shifts and several area doctors are planning to operate an urgent care
clinic with extended hours, Jackson said. OThird shifts are beginning
to sprout up in a lot of places now,O said Jackson, who has worked at
U.S. auto factories for 31 years. OBusinesses are expanding here and
itOs helping the community.O Jan 18, 2012
General Motors, Toyota GM Breaks 9 Million Taking Global Sales
Crown From Toyota: Cars. General Motors Co. (GM), saying today it sold
9.03 million vehicles worldwide last year, regained its spot as the
worldOs top-selling automaker as Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) struggled
with floods, earthquakes and a tsunami. GMOs deliveries rose 7.6
percent from 8.39 million in 2010, the company said on its website,
topping an analystOs estimate and exceeding the 9 million mark for the
first time since 2007. Toyota, which ended GMOs 77-year reign as the
worldOs largest automaker in 2008, hasnOt reported full-year results.
Toyota has estimated that 2011 calendar year sales will decrease 6
percent to 7.9 million. The return to No. 1 marks a sharp rebound for
GM, coming two years after the company exited a U.S. government-backed
bankruptcy. When GM was last No. 1, in 2007, it was known as General
Motors Corp. and lost USD38.7 billion. Last year, the Detroit-based
automaker may have earned USD8.1 billion, the average of four analyst
estimates. OThe difference between this title and other times is that
they are profitable and thatOs where the bankruptcy was helpful,O
Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with IHS Automotive, said today in
a telephone interview. OItOs great to be No. 1, but itOs a lot more fun
to be profitable.O GM Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson has said that
he places a higher priority on profit margins than on global unit

volumes. While analysts estimate that GM will boost revenue 2.9 percent
to USD154.2 billion this year, he is pushing for profit margins before
interest and taxes to beat those of Ford Motor Co. (F) and Volkswagen
AG. OWe need to focus on profits and margins and not necessarily try to
post numbers on the board,O Akerson told reporters at the Detroit auto
show earlier this month. OWe want to grow in terms of our cash flow so
we can continue to invest in both up and down cycles and be strong
financially.O GM Shares GM rose 1.3 percent to USD24.82 at the close
in New York. The shares have gained 22 percent this year and losing 45
percent in 2011. The U.S. still owns almost a third of GM. The
government would have to sell its stake at an average of USD53 a share
to break even. GM earned USD6.17 billion in 2010 and USD8.47 billion in
the first nine months of last year. OMore important than finishing the
year with the most units sold is how it was accomplished,O Kevin Tynan,
senior automotive analyst for Bloomberg Industries, said in an e-mail.
OThere were many years in the recent past in which GM won the sales
title but operated unprofitably.O Growth Drivers GMOs Chevrolet brand,
aided by the Cruze compact car, helped drive the automakerOs growth in
2011. Chevy had worldwide sales of 4.76 million cars and trucks last
year. The automakerOs two largest markets finished with similar totals.
GM saw sales rise 8.3 percent in China to 2.55 million, including sales
with its joint-venture partners, while deliveries rose 13 percent in the
U.S. to 2.5 million. GM has said it wants to double its sales to 5
million in China by 2015. GMOs Asia business, including its partnership
with SAIC Motor Corp., has been helped by sales of its Wuling light
trucks, which retail for about USD4,400. OThese are not very expensive

vehicles, but they are profitable and they sell a helluva lot of them,O
said Joe Phillippi, principal of consulting firm AutoTrends Inc. in
Short Hills, New Jersey. Global auto sales will grow 6.7 percent this
year to 77.7 million, R.L. Polk Co. said earlier this month.
Morgan Stanley estimated July 6 that GM would sell 8.5 million vehicles
in 2011. Volkswagen probably topped Toyota last year. The Wolfsburg,
Germany-based companyOs global deliveries rose 14 percent to 8.16
million. VW has said it aims to surpass GM and Toyota with 10 million
sales by 2018. Executives privately want to meet the goal by 2015, a
person with knowledge of the matter has said. ToyotaOs Rebound Through
three quarters, ToyotaOs deliveries fell 8.8 percent to 5.77 million, as
production was limited by natural disasters in Japan and Thailand. Next
year it expects sales of Toyota, Lexus and Scion models to grow 7.3
percent to 8.48 million. Toyota has the opportunity to rebound this
year, especially as it works to rebuild depleted inventories for
dealers, longtime industry watcher Maryann Keller, principal of a self-
named consulting firm in Stamford, Connecticut, said. OIf they donOt
have any significant disruptions to their global production system, they
will not only be able to produce to meet demand but theyOll have to
produce to refill inventory,O she said. OThey have that extra
opportunity to build more than say the market will buy.O The battle to
be the worldOs top-selling automaker goes back to the days of Henry Ford
and Billy Durant, the founders of Ford and GM. Under the leadership of
Alfred Sloan, GM took the sales title from Ford in 1931 during the Great
Depression and retained it through World War II, the boom years of the
1950s and O60s, and the first five decades after Toyota began selling

cars in the U.S. New GM Toyota first surpassed GM in 2008, the year
then-CEO Rick Wagoner asked Congress for a loan to keep the company
afloat. He was fired before the automaker entered bankruptcy protection
June 1, 2009. Harry Wilson, a former member of the Obama
administrationOs automotive task force, which oversaw GMOs USD50 billion
bailout, has said the group didnOt see GM retaking Toyota this soon
after emerging from court protection on July 10, 2009. OThe challenge
is going to be keeping the title because other manufactures, like Toyota
and Volkswagen (VOW), are after it also,O said Lindland, the industry
analyst based in Norwalk, Connecticut. OToyota has something to prove.
TheyOre on a mission.O Jan 20, 2012
Google, LG Electronics, HTC, Samsung Talks reportedly under way
between Google, LG on TV collaboration. Google and LG Electronics are in
negotiations on providing LG with early access to the next generation of
the Google TV software, Bloomberg reports, citing people with knowledge
of the project. Such talks could give LG a leg up in developing a
television set with Google TV 3.0 technology, much like how HTC and
Samsung Electronics were able to make mobile phones with the latest
version of the Android operating system. Jan 16, 2012
HAECO, Cathay Pacific Operations Maintenance. Hong Kong
Aircraft Engineering Co. (HAECO) has signed an MOU with Cathay Pacific
Airways for the management of the groupOs airframe rotable components.
Jan 19, 2012
Hayman Hayman Island Offers February Romance Packages. Hayman, a
private island located in the Great Barrier Reef, is offering romantic
getaway packages throughout the month of February. To set the scene,

Hayman is presenting the Ultimate Hayman Proposal stay for couples in a
Beach Villa. Couples announcing their engagement at the resort this
February will receive an invitation to come back for a complimentary
wedding at Hayman. Returning wedding parties will have the choice of a
range of indoor and outdoor spaces for a ceremony location, in addition
to a personalized menu created by HaymanOs executive chef and the set-up
assistance of a professional Hayman wedding planner. The Ultimate Hayman
Proposal is priced from USD10,000 per couple including three nights in a
Beach Villa; a Perle Degustation Menu for ValentineOs Day (the Perle
dessert features a hand-crafted Valrhona white chocolate creation draped
with Depazzi white-gold earrings); a one-hour pampering hot stone
massage at Hayman Spa; and helicopter arrival and departure. Hayman is
also presenting a four-night Romantic Escape Package priced from
USD2,540 per couple including French Champagne and handmade chocolates
on arrival, daily buffet breakfast in Azure, and a three-course romantic
dinner on the private setting including a bottle of Australian wine. Jan
18, 2012
Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine
Engineering, Samsung Korean Shipyards Plan to Buy 12% Less Steel
Plate, Deepening Posco Slump. South Korean shipyards plan to buy 12
percent less steel plate this year, worsening a demand slump that has
hurt prices at Posco, the worldOs biggest producer. Hyundai Heavy
Industries Co., Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine Engineering Co. and
Samsung Heavy Industries Co. will cut purchases to a combined 6.5
million metric tons from 7.4 million tons, according to company figures.
The yards are the worldOs biggest buyer of steel plate, which is used

for making hulls and in construction. The shipbuilders, the worldOs
three biggest, are making fewer oil tankers and container vessels as
they focus on more lucrative drill ships and offshore units that
generally need less steel. The shift may hurt earnings at Posco, Dongkuk
Steel Mill Co. (001230) and Hyundai Steel Co., which have boosted
plate-making capacity 72 percent since 2008. OSteelmakers are in for a
tough year,O said Bang Minjin, an analyst at HI Investment
Securities Co. in Seoul. OTheir one bright spot is about to fade.O
Hyundai Heavy, based in Ulsan, South Korea, expects to cut the use of
steel plate, its biggest raw-material cost, by 14 percent to 3.6 million
tons this year. The tally includes two affiliates. The companyOs orders
for oil tankers, container ships and dry-bulk vessels halved to 23 last
year because of competition from China and a global drop in orders
caused by a capacity glut. The worldwide order backlog fell 26 percent
in 2011, the biggest decline since Clarkson Plc began compiling data in
1995. Drill-Ship Orders At the same time, Hyundai Heavy won a record
11 orders for drill ships last year as oil companies increase
exploration. Such vessels, used for boring test wells, require about
20,000 tons of steel plate, half the amount needed for a 300,000-
deadweight ton oil tanker, according to the shipbuilder. New tankers
have double hulls to help prevent leaks. A shipyard can sell a drill
ship for about USD600 million, about six times the price it will get for
a 300,000-deadweight oil tanker, according to Lee Jae Won, an analyst at
Tongyang Securities Inc. in Seoul. The three Korean steelmakers have
boosted annual plate- production capacity to 13.89 million tons from
8.09 million tons in 2008, according to data from the Korea Iron

Steel Association. They added facilities after five years of record
orders caused steel-plate prices to almost quadruple to as much as 1.41
million won (USD1,240) per ton in 2008. Price Drop PoscoOs average
selling price may drop to 920,000 won this quarter, Chris Kim, a Samsung
Securities Co. steel analyst, wrote in a Jan. 11 report. The Pohang,
South Korea-based steelmakerOs average price was probably 980,000 won in
the fourth quarter of last year and 1.053 million won in the preceding
three months, Kim said. Posco, the worldOs third-biggest steelmaker,
doesnOt have any plans to adjust production and prices, said Kim Dong
Ho, a spokesman. The company, which gets 20 percent of sales from steel
plate, opened a 1.7 trillion won plant for making the material last
year, boosting capacity to 7 million tons a year. The steelmaker
reported a 13 percent decline in net income for last year, missing
analyst estimates. Profit may be little changed this year at 3.3
trillion won, according to the median of eight analyst estimates
compiled by Bloomberg. Hyundai Steel (004020), an affiliate of Hyundai
Motor Group, has no plans to cut plate output, said Lee Choong Hee, a
spokesman. The Incheon-based company opened two blast furnaces in 2010
costing a total of 6.23 trillion won and able to produce 1.5 million
tons of plate a year. Kim Sun Hong, a spokesman for Dongkuk Steel,
declined to comment. Plate Oversupply OThe oversupply of steel plate
is likely to last a bit longer,O said Lee Young Seog, who helps manage
about USD7.8 billion in equities including Posco shares at Korea
Investment Management Co. in Seoul. OShipbuilding orders fell
considerably last year and we donOt expect it to improve this year.O
Posco gained 1.8 percent to close at 414,500 won in Seoul trading.

Dongkuk advanced 2.4 percent to 23,300 won and Hyundai Steel climbed 2.4
percent to 109,000 won. Posco has fallen 13 percent in Seoul trading in
the past 12 months, compared with a 15 percent decline for Hyundai Steel
and a 30 percent slump for Seoul-based Dongkuk. The benchmark Kospi
Index has dropped 7.4 percent in the period. Lower Prices The
steelmakers have cut prices as they seek to boost sales in markets
including China, the biggest consumer and producer of the metal. South
KoreaOs exports of plate increased 42 percent last year to 2.9 million
tons, according to the Korean steelmakers group. OSteelmakers will have
to sell more overseas, even though prices will be lower,O said HI
InvestmentOs Bang. OThis is going to be bad news for profits.O The
average price of steel plate in China fell to 4,173 yuan (USD661) per
ton on Jan. 9, the lowest price since July 2010, according to Beijing
Antaike Information Development Co. Posco is also challenging European
and Japanese steelmakers to supply plate for offshore structures. The
company hasnOt traditionally operated in this market because of booming
demand from shipbuilding. In October, it won a five-year deal to supply
plate for offshore units to Royal Dutch Shell Plc. (RDSA) Materials
Cost Steelmakers may also benefit from a decline in raw material
prices, partly caused by reduced production in China. PoscoOs contract
prices for iron ore may fall to an average USD141 per ton this year from
an estimated USD161 in 2011, according to a Jan. 13 report by Jeon Seung
Hun, an analyst at Daewoo Securities Co. Coking coal prices may drop to
USD230 a ton from USD289, he said. Daewoo Shipbuilding expects to cut
plate use 10 percent from last yearOs tally of 1.7 million tons. The
company, which built the worldOs biggest floating oil production and

storage vessel for Total SA (FP), plans to double output of offshore
units this year. Samsung Heavy intends to buy 1.4 million tons of plate
this year, a 6.7 percent decline. The company is building the worldOs
first floating LNG production and storage plant for Shell. Hyundai Heavy
is constructing two floating oil production and storage vessels as well
as a gas-processing facility for Chevron Corp.Os Gorgon project in
Australia. OWorking on more offshore projects will be good for
shipyardsO earnings because they have higher margins,O TongyangOs Lee
said. OItOs definitely not going to be good for steelmakers.O Jan 20,
2012
Indonesia IndonesiaOs tall ship ODewaruciO joins USA Operation
Sail 2012: promotes OWonderful Indonesia. On Sunday, January 15, the
majestic Navy Training tall ship, ODewaruciO was sent off on a
nine-month round the world circumnavigation from Surabaya, East Java, by
Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Soeparno, and Deputy Minister for Tourism
and Creative Economy, Sapta Nirwandar. Sailing around the world in 277
days, the ship will cross the Pacific to the United States, join
OOperation Sail 2012,O calling on a total 21 American, European,
African, and Asian ports to finally return to its base on October 16,
2012. The journey has three missions, said Admiral Soeparno. Besides
serving as a training vessel for cadets to practice astronomical
navigation, the ship will also join Operation Sail 2012 in the USA.
Moreover, throughout this journey the ship and crew will promote
OWonderful IndonesiaO through cultural performances, parades, and meet
the locals. Earlier, Deputy Minister Sapta Nirwandar signed an MOU with
the Indonesian Navy represented by Admiral Soeparno at the Surabya Naval

Base. "This particular operation is extraordinary in the sense that
it is longer than any other voyages in the past by the same vessel.
Tourism brings significant contribution to the national economy, and as
large archipelago, marine based tourism promotion is an important key to
IndonesiaOs more successful future in tourism," said Sapta
Nirwandar. The Dewaruci, a class A barquentine made by H.C. Stolcken
Soch, Germany, in 1953, is the only tall mast ship owned and operated by
the Indonesian Navy, serving as a training vessel for cadets to master
navigational skills, especially astronomical sail and advanced Navy
operational mastery of the sea, such as national defense and open sea
battle. "Wonderful Astronomical Sail 2012O is proud to once again
sail the seas and build awareness of our wonderful nation," said
Admiral Soeparno before fellow admirals and most importantly the shipOs
crew, giving full support to national tourism. At ports of call,
Dewaruci will set up Open Ship, offering a rare opportunity for locals
to step aboard and observe this legendary ship. There will also be a
cocktail party with fans and visitors of the vessel. A visit to Naval
bases in each country is also scheduled as the crew is to perform
marching bands and Indonesian traditional art performances, such as the
Reog Ponorogo, Rampak Kendang, and other traditional dances. "We
are proud to introduce the legendary Dewaruci and some of
Indonesia's cultural attractions to global communities. We work
together with the navy to strengthen the good image of our nation and
build awareness of our national tourism brand, Wonderful
Indonesia," added Sapta in a short meeting with the local media.
DewaruciOs highest masts are 35.87 m. and 32.5 m. tall. The ship is 56.3

meters long, and 9.5 meters wide, weighing 874 DWT. DewaruciOs voyage
sails from Surabaya [ETH] Jayapura, Jayapura [ETH] Kwajelein (USA),
Kwajelein[ETH] Honolulu (USA), Honolulu [ETH] San Diego (USA), San Diego
[ETH] Manzanillo (Mexico),Manzanilli [ETH] Panama, Panama [ETH] New
Orleans (USA), New Orleans [ETH] Miami (USA),Miami [ETH] Charleston
(USA), Charleston [ETH] New York (USA), New York [ETH] Norfolk(USA),
Norfolk [ETH] Baltimore (USA), Baltimore [ETH] Boston (USA), Boston
[ETH] St. John(Canada), St. John [ETH] Porto (Portugal), Porto [ETH]
Cadiz (Spain), Cadiz [ETH] Malta, Malta [ETH]Port Said (Egypt), Port
Said [ETH] Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Jeddah [ETH] Salalah (Oman),
Salalah[ETH] Colombo (Srilanka), Colombo [ETH] Belawan (Indonesia),
Belawan [ETH] Jakarta, and Jakarta [ETH]Surabaya. Jan 18, 2012
InterContinental Hotels Group InterContinental Set to Open Crowne
Plaza in Semarang, Java. A strong economy and increased tourism arrivals
are inspiring increased interest by hoteliers in Indonesia. The
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will open the new 270-room Crowne
Plaza Semarang on Jan. 22. Owned by the Golden Flower Group, the hotel
will be managed by IHG. The first Crowne Plaza hotel in Central Java is
strategically located at SemarangOs central business district, near
government and regional corporate offices, major banks and shopping
malls. The hotel is also a 15-minute drive from Ahmad Yani Airport.
OBeing the first Crowne Plaza-branded hotel in Central Java -- and the
second in Indonesia following Jakarta -- Crowne Plaza Semarang will add
to the thriving tourism and economic activities in this part of the
region,O said Ian Reid, general manager of Crowne Plaza Semarang. OAs
one of the country's busiest hubs, Semarang is an ideal gateway

connecting both business and leisure guests who travel domestically and
internationally.O All rooms and suites are well-equipped with amenities
for guests to stay connected, such as docking stations, and wired and
wireless Internet access. Guests of the Club rooms and suites have
access to the Club Lounge and a personalized check-in/check-out area.
For extended-stay travelers, the hotel has four suite units that each
come with two or three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a dining
room, laundry facilities and entertainment systems. Crowne Plaza
Semarang includes restaurants offering popular local and international
cuisines, a business center, a fully-facilitated health club, an outdoor
pool and a sauna. It also features the largest pillar-less hotel
ballroom in Central Java that can accommodate more than 2,000 people,
complete with a wedding chapel and gallery. OThe opening of Crowne Plaza
Semarang underscores IHGOs strong expansion in Southeast Asia,O said
Alan Watts, IHGOs vice president of operations, Southeast Asia.
OIndonesia has reflected strong GDP growth in the past few years. This
encourages long-term economic and tourism growth in terms of
investments, infrastructural developments and employment opportunities,
while continuing to be a favorite travel destination for both business
and leisure travelers." In 2011 alone, Indonesia recorded 7.63
million tourist arrivals, representing a 9 percent growth from the
previous year. The country targets 8.72 million tourist arrivals by the
end of 2015. The opening of Crowne Plaza Semarang marks IHGOs seventh
property in Indonesia -- two of which are under the Crowne Plaza brand.
IHG currently has a pipeline of 32 hotels and resorts under the
group's brands across the region. The first quarter of 2012 will

see IHG opening three other new properties in Southeast Asia -- Holiday
Inn Express Bangkok Siam, InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam
Resort, InterContinental Danang Resort, and Holiday Inn Bangkok
Sukhumvit 22. Jan 19, 2012
InterContinental Hotels Group InterContinental will target
smaller cities with new China brand. The new upscale hotel brand that
InterContinental Hotels Group plans to launch in China will place
"a particular focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which represent a
rapidly growing share of the China hotel market," IHG spokesman
Stephen Boggs said. China's travel-demand growth has shown
secondary and tertiary cities outpacing that of the country's top
cities as hotel performance continues to show strong improvements. Jan
16, 2012
Japan Airlines, Boeing JAL announces route 2012 plans. Japan
Airlines has outlined its plans for routes, fleet and flight frequency
for the first half of fiscal year 2012 year ending March 31, 2013, as
the Boeing 787 is introduced into service. Japan Airlines will launch
the first 4X-weekly 787 nonstop service between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and
Boston April 22, increasing to daily from June 1. JAL plans to deploy
the 787 on five existing 777 and 767 routes in JAL's international
network from the end of March. Routes include NRT-Delhi, NRT-Moscow,
Tokyo Haneda (HND)-Beijing, NRT-Singapore (SIN) and HND-SIN. JAL said it
will increase flight frequencies on its NRT-SIN route from 7X-weekly to
14X-weekly from Oct. 28. On the domestic side, JAL plans to reinstate
daily Fukuoka-Hanamaki service from March 25, as well as 2X-daily
Niigata-Sapporo service from July 13. The carrier will also schedule an

increase in flight frequencies on nine other routes from HND, Osaka
Itami, Osaka Kansai, Sapporo and Chubu, and will suspend its
Chubu-Ishigaki route from March 25. Jan 20, 2012
Java Festival Production Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival
2012 promises to be the biggest show in 8 years. The biggest jazz
festival yet in its 8 years history, and one of the largest in the
world, the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2012, is about to
take on the Metropolitan capital of Indonesia by storm, drawing crowds
not only from the city but also from throughout the archipelago and
neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Java Jazz will be held at the
Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, from March 2-4, 2012. At
a press conference held on December 15, 2012, Peter Gontha, Chairman and
Founder of Java Festival Production (JFP), promised that this yearOs
staging will be the biggest in 8 years. The same promise was given by
JFPOs President Director, Dewi Gontha, stating that even though the
concept remains similar to that of last year, its execution will be
better and on a much grander scale. As promoter and organizer, JFP has
this year prepared 18 stages as a platform for over 1,500 artists in
about 80 slots per day. Confirming its magnitude, this yearOs festival
will be decorated with a stunning lineup of the worldOs finest jazz
musicians. For the special shows, there will be living legend Herbie
Hancock, Pat Metheny, and Al Jarreau, with each scheduled to perform
twice. Erykah Badu has also confirmed and is ready to join the special
show lists. Aside from these names, some other giants have confirmed,
including saxophonist, David Sanborn, and Dave Koz, Bobby Caldwell,
Bobby McFerrin and son, the beatboxer Taylor McFerrin, keyboardist Joey

DeFrancesco, the phenomenal vintage-funk/avant groove group Medeski
Martin Wood, and two jazz contrabassists Ron Carter and Rodney
Whitaker to join drummer Carl Allen. Bobby Caldwell, will also
collaborate with Laura Fygi and Swing Out Sister in their own Special
Big Band Project. The Manhattan Transfer will repeat their magic in the
third consecutive year. For Latin Jazz fans, there will be the amazing
female percussionist who played often with Prince in the 80s, Sheila E
and also the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band. Other international jazz
maestros include: Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Chris Standring,
Duwende, Mamas Gun, Quincy Jones Presents: Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Mayer
Hawthorne, Ron King Big Band, Barry White Show The Pleasure
Unlimited Orchestra, Depepapep, SoilOPimpO session, and many more.
Probably the most anticipated performance for this yearOs Java Jazz
Festival is the appearance of the legend of music: Stevie Wonder.
Although according to www.javajazzfestival.com , Stevie Wonder is still
listed as OPending Final Confirmation,O but through his tweet account,
Peter Gontha has confirmed that Stevie Wonder will perform live at the
Java Jazz Festival on Sunday, March 4, 2012, as reported by www.tempo.co
. From IndonesiaOs own music scene, many great artists will join in as
well, from established groups, legends, and special projects or
collaborations. According to Eki Puradiredja, music director of JFP, the
selection process for the Indonesian lineup is still running and there
will be 110 Indonesian bands to perform this year. Names already
confirmed include: Barry Likumahuwa Quintet, Sandy Winarta Quartet,
Monita Tahalea Quartet, Abdul and The Coffee Theory, Dwiki Dharmawan
Sa'unine String Quartet, Maliq D'Essentials,

Regional News - Asia / Pacific.

Regional News - Asia / Pacific.

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Regional News - Asia / Pacific.

Similar to Regional News - Asia / Pacific. (20)

More from phuketsailing5

More from phuketsailing5 (12)

Regional News - Asia / Pacific.