South Africa: Visit SA National Parks for Free

South Africans are in for a treat this month. As part of Heritage Month, South African National Parks (SANParks) is offering free visits to all national parks from 8-12 September.

The announcement was made by Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, during a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday.

"Cabinet encourages South Africans to celebrate our rich natural and cultural heritage, diverse beliefs and traditions as a people united in pursuit of a shared identity," Minister Radebe said.

Heritage Month is celebrated from 1-30 September under the theme, "Celebrating 20 years of democracy: Tell your Story that Moves South Africa Forward".

This year's Heritage Month takes place against the backdrop of the country's 20 years of freedom celebrations, which also reinforces South Africa's collective memory of the struggle towards promoting a national identity.

Minister Radebe said Cabinet further encouraged South Africans, especially the youth, to embrace the country's common heritage and use their diverse cultural heritage to foster nation building, inclusive citizenship and social cohesion.

He said Cabinet also supports the call by Parliament for all South Africans to protect the national heritage, particularly the poaching of the rhinos and all animals.

Meanwhile, Cabinet has also wished Adv Pansy Tlakula well and further expressed its gratitude to the contribution she made to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Cabinet also extended its thanks to her for her selfless contribution to democracy in the country. Tlakula resigned as the IEC chairperson on Tuesday.

Tlakula made headlines ahead of the elections after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found her "guilty of gross maladministration" for the lease agreement of the IEC's headquarters in Centurion.

This prompted five political parties -- the UDM, African Christian Democratic Party, Congress of the People, Agang SA and Economic Freedom Fighters -- to approach the court to get Tlakula removed for allegedly failing to follow due processes in the procurement of the IEC's premises.

Minister Radebe further said her resignation comes against the backdrop of a successful 2014 General Election which she managed. "She contributed immensely to ensure our democracy remains strong," he said.

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byUnknown

in Africa, national, Parks, south, Travel Africa, Visit

23:22

South Africa: Visit SA National Parks for Free

South Africans are in for a treat this month. As part of Heritage Month, South African National Parks (SANParks) is offering free visits to ...

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Liberia: Chronicle Publisher Brown Says Police Barred Him From Traveling

Monrovia — The Publisher of the National Chronicle Newspaper whose paper was shut down from publication by the Government of Liberia on Thursday, August 14 says he has been prevented from leaving the country by Police Director Chris Massaquoi.

byUnknown

in Barred, Brown, Chronicle, Liberia, News From Africa, Police, Publisher, Traveling

18:42

Liberia: Chronicle Publisher Brown Says Police Barred Him From Traveling

Monrovia — The Publisher of the National Chronicle Newspaper whose paper was shut down from publication by the Government of Liberia on Thur...

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Egypt: Tourism Minister - Developing Cairo's Streets Bring Back Capital's Beauty

Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou said on Monday 8/9/2014 that developing Cairo's streets will reveal the beauty of the Khedivial Cairo.

Zaazou asserted that Qasr el-Nile, Talaat Harb, Adly, Abdel Kahleq Tharwat, Sherif, Shambilion streets, all in Downtown Cairo, will be developed.

The development will positively affect the image of Cairo, he added.

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byUnknown

in Beauty, Bring, Cairos, Capitals, Developing, Egypt, Minister, Streets, Tourism, Travel Africa

14:41

Egypt: Tourism Minister - Developing Cairo's Streets Bring Back Capital's Beauty

Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou said on Monday 8/9/2014 that developing Cairo's streets will reveal the beauty of the Khedivial Cairo. Za...

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Nigeria: FAAN Sensitises Workers On Aviation Safety

By Chinedu Eze

The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recently conducted a fire simulation and prevention exercise for FAAN workers and other stakeholders operating at the Domestic Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

The aim of the programme was to acquaint airport workers with fire emergencies at the airport. The exercise, which was handled by the terminal's fire officer, Mrs. Dorothy Egwu, was also designed to ensure that fire safety standards are regularly maintained within the terminal.

Egwu said fire safety was based on the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate. She explained that oxygen, heat and fuel, which are combustive materials, work together to produce the chemical reaction that result in fire and stressed that the three components must be removed for fire to be extinguished.

She further noted that the three common types of fire extinguishers were water, carbon dioxide and dry chemical powder extinguishers, adding that fire had four categories namely category A, which is for solids that are not metals e.g. paper and wood.

This category, she said can be extinguished with air pressurised water and dry chemical powder. She said category B fire is for flammable liquids, such as gasoline, while category C is for energised electrical equipment. These two groups, she can be extinguished with carbon dioxide and dry chemical powder. For category D fire, which is for metals such as potassium and aluminium, she said, it requires special extinguishing agent.

While demonstrating how to use the fire extinguishers, Egwu enjoined all participants to remember the acronym PASS, which means - Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the top handle, Sweep from side to side until the fire is completely out. Egwu advised that in the event of a fire, people should leave the building through the nearest exit and assist any person in immediate danger to safety without risking their own lives.

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byUnknown

in Aviation, Nigeria, Safety, Sensitises, Travel Africa, Workers

10:06

Nigeria: FAAN Sensitises Workers On Aviation Safety

By Chinedu Eze The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recently conducted ...

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West Africa: UN on Ebola - Don't Cancel Flights; Contributions Urgently Needed

Photo: USAID Liberia
The U.S. Agency for International Development airlifts medical and emergency supplies. document

Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for your time.

I have just convened senior leaders and experts from across the United Nations system to discuss our next steps in managing the Ebola epidemic.

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO [World Health Organization], and Dr. David Nabarro, my Senior UN System Coordinator for Ebola, continue to spearhead the UN response. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and many heads of Agencies and Funds and Programmes, such as UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, UNFPA, ICAO and many other agency heads have also joined us by video-teleconference.

We are mobilizing in every possible way. We are together today to send out an international rescue call.

The number of cases is rising exponentially. The disease is spreading far faster than the response. People are increasingly frustrated that it is not being controlled.

What began as a public health emergency is evolving into a social and economic challenge for millions.

The next few weeks will be crucial. The people of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in particular are looking to us for support. They are counting on us for a massive surge in assistance: more doctors, nurses and beds; more equipment, trucks and other vehicles.

We also need better awareness and understanding about what we are facing.

I urge airlines and shipping companies not to cancel flights and docking to the affected countries. Banning flights and shipping services will not keep Ebola from spreading, but it will keep medical teams from reaching people most in need.

Stigma and rumour can do just as much damage as the virus itself.

It is crucial to remember that Ebola can be avoided and controlled. The virus has been contained elsewhere in the past, and we can do it today as well. We know what to do and what needs to be done.

I call on the international community to contribute to the WHO Roadmap and to provide the $600 million needed for supplies in West Africa. The world can no longer afford to short-change global public health.

We need contributions -- people, material and funding -- from Governments, the private sector, financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and other groups at the grassroots.

At the meeting we have just held, we agreed to establish an Ebola crisis centre to bring synergy and efficiency to the efforts of these many partners within and beyond the United Nations.

The goal is to stop Ebola transmission in affected countries within six to nine months, and to prevent the international spread of the virus. This can be done only if the urgent and necessary mobilization is done both in the affected countries and by the international community.

In my meetings and telephone conversations with world leaders, I continue to call for contributions and support.

We have seen the courageous responses of health personnel. We are determined to show our solidarity with them and scale up our efforts to tackle the epidemic.

This is a huge, serious challenge. We are organizing to meet it. I am convinced we can succeed.

Thank you.

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byUnknown

in Africa, Cancel, Contributions, Ebola, Flights, Needed, Travel Africa, Urgently

05:22

West Africa: UN on Ebola - Don't Cancel Flights; Contributions Urgently Needed

Photo: USAID Liberia The U.S. Agency for International Development airlifts medical and emergency supplies. document Good morning, Ladies an...

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Nigeria: African Airlines, Others Record Growth in Cargo, Passenger Traffic

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi

THE global air transport report has revealed that African airlines have recorded a growth of 4.9 per cent, which reversed the year-on-year contraction experienced in June, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

However, with the capacity rising up to 4.5 per cent, the load factor improved slightly to 70.2 per cent.

Currently, the biggest factor impacting international traffic demand in July was the slowdown of the South African economy, coupled with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which intensified towards the end of July, the impact of which may likely be seen in August.

Also, with the released data for global airfreight markets have showed a strong increase in air cargo in July. Compared to July 2013, freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) that rose to 5.8 per cent.

To IATA, it was acceleration in growth from June when cargo demand grew at less than half that rate of 2.4 per cent.

The strong growth mirrors positive developments in some key regional economies. After a slowdown at the start of the year, global business confidence and trade are showing signs of improvement again, especially in Asia-Pacific.

Global air cargo volumes have now surpassed their previous July peak, in 2010, and look set to continue to increase.

European airfreight, however, grew just 1.8 per cent. This was reflected on the effects of the Russia-Ukraine crisis (including the impact of mounting economic sanctions), which has added to economic weakness in the Eurozone.

"Overall, July saw growth accelerate. That's good news and it reflects the continued strengthening of business confidence at a global level. But the air cargo industry is moving at two speeds with a sharp divide in regional performance. European carriers reported anemic growth of just 1.8 per cent while all other regions reported solid gains of 5 per cent or more on the previous year.

"In particular, the 7.1 per cent growth reported by airlines in Asia-Pacific is encouraging as it demonstrates a recovery in trade and a positive response to China's economic stimulus measures," said the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, IATA, Tony Tyler.

IATA has also stated that the global passenger traffic results for July have showed demand growth of 5.3 per cent over the previous July. Capacity expanded exactly in tandem with demand with 5.3 per cent, resulting in a global load factor of 82.3 per cent, unchanged from last year.

Tyler added: "July was another strong month of growth for air travel. People are connecting by air in ever-greater numbers. That's true across all regions. Despite the various economic challenges, the outlook for passenger travel remains broadly positive. The overall sluggishness at the beginning of the year appears to be behind us with growth in China and other emerging economies offsetting recent deterioration in the Eurozone".

According to the body, the July international passenger demand rose by 5.5 per cent compared to the same month in 2013. This was outstripped by a capacity expansion of 6.2 per cent, which resulted in a slight weakening of the load factor to 81.9 per cent.

European carriers reported growth of 5.3 per cent in July compared to a year ago. Capacity expanded slightly more aggressively at 5.6 per cent, but the region still reported a very high load factor of 85.1 per cent. While this was a robust performance, latest indicators showed a weakening in key European economies such as Germany reflecting the impact of sanctions associated with the deepening Russia-Ukraine crisis.

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byUnknown

in african, Airlines, Cargo, Growth, Nigeria, Others, Passenger, Record, Traffic, Travel Africa

01:32

Nigeria: African Airlines, Others Record Growth in Cargo, Passenger Traffic

By Chika Goodluck-Ogazi THE global air transport report has revealed that African airlines have recorded a growth of 4.9 per cent, which rev...

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Uganda: Emirates Offers Fares Cuts for Ugandans

Kampala — Ugandan travellers are set to benefit from a 25% discount on Business Class and Economy Class fares from Emirates writes BAZ WAISWA.

A statement from the airline company reveals that customers must purchase their tickets between 27 August and 6 September 2014, and travel between 27 August and 3 December 2014.

It adds that tickets are valid for return travel only, with a minimum stay of three days and a maximum stay of one month. Blackout dates from 11-30 October 2014 apply for travel to Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

Thani Alansari, the Emirates Country Manager for Uganda acknowledged that Emirates' everyday-value fares to destinations across the various world cities are proving popular with Ugandan travelers.

Such destination include Boston, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Los

Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Washington D.C. London, Beijing, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

"We appreciate the loyalty of our Ugandan travelers and this offer is just one of the ways that we are giving back to them," he added.

EK 729 departs Dubai International Airport every day at 0835hrs and arrives at the Entebbe International Airport at 1245hrs. The return flight, EK730, leaves Entebbe at 1535hrs and lands in Dubai at 2155hrs.

Economy Class tickets for Ugandan travelers from Entebbe to the selected destinations $ 644 to London, USD 950 to Beijing, $1,197 to New York, $477 to Dubai, $498 to Mumbai, $1,197 to Washington, $837 to Bangkok, $1,489 to Kuala Lumpur, $1,852 to Guangzhou and $1,197 to Shanghai.

Business Class fares to start from USD 2,293 to London, $2,866 to Beijing, $3,480 to New York, $1,682 to Dubai, $1,690 to Mumbai, $3,480 to Washington, USD 2,059 to Bangkok, $3,712 to Kuala Lumpur, $3,539 to Guangzhou and $3,339 to Shanghai.

Meanwhile two HIV-positive passengers and a friend are suing a Chinese airline for refusing to let them on board, in the country's first such lawsuit, state media reported recently.

The pair planned to travel from Shenyang in the northeast to Shijiazhuang, south of Beijing, but were barred from the Spring Airlines plane after they informed staff of their status, the Global Times said.

The two, along with an HIV-negative travelling companion, were told that their tickets had been cancelled. All three sued the budget airline, accusing it of discrimination and demanding an apology as well as compensation of 48,999 yuan ($8,000), the paper said.

A Shenyang court accepted the case, making it the first lawsuit against an airline for discriminating against an HIV-positive person in China, it added.

"The court's acceptance of this case signalled that HIV carriers can protect their rights through legal channels," it quoted plaintiff Cheng Shuaishuai as saying.

China has a long history of discrimination against those with HIV. It bans them from becoming civil servants, and they face the possibility of losing their jobs if their employers discover their status,

China only lifted a long-standing ban on HIV-positive foreigners entering the country in 2010.

In recent years top officials have begun speaking more openly about HIV prevention and control, but discrimination remains an issue, with campaign groups and international organisations saying widespread stigmatisation has complicated efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Under Chinese law air carriers can deny transport to infectious patients, people with mental illness or passengers whose health condition may endanger others or themselves.

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byUnknown

in Emirates, Fares, Offers, Travel Africa, Uganda, ugandans

22:27

Uganda: Emirates Offers Fares Cuts for Ugandans

Kampala — Ugandan travellers are set to benefit from a 25% discount on Business Class and Economy Class fares from Emirates writes BAZ WAIS...

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