USA: law suit against government bodies over "No Fly List"

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit on behalf of 10 US citizens and lawful residents who are prohibited from flying to or from the United States or over US airspace because they are on the government's "No Fly List" against the US Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Terrorist Screening Center in US District Court for the District of Oregon. None of the individuals in the lawsuit have been told why they are on the list or given a chance to clear their names.

The ACLU's complaint is available online at: www.aclu.org/national-security/latif-et-al-v-holder-et-al-complaint

More information about the ACLU's lawsuit is available online at: www.aclu.org/national-security/aclu-challenges-government-no-fly-list-0

Source: aclu.org

China: Tibet to be reopened to foreign tourists

China says it will reopen Tibet to foreign tourists in early April. The region has recently been closed to travellers because of security fears in regard to a number of sensitive anniversaries. The Chinese news agency Xinhua quoted Tibet's head of tourism as saying the region was now "harmonious and safe".

However, there is still a heavy Chinese military presence in the area, and foreign journalists and human rights groups cannot operate freely.

Source: BBC News; find article here>>.

"China Lists Dos and Don’ts for Olympics-Bound Foreigners"

As reported by Keith Bradsher, at The New York Times, "Do not bring any printed materials critical of China. Do not plan on holding any rallies or demonstrations in China. Do not think that you are guaranteed an entry visa because you hold tickets to an Olympic event. And do not even think about smuggling opium into China.
That is some of the eclectic advice issued by the Beijing Organizing Committee on Monday, in a document listing 57 questions that foreign visitors to the Olympic Games in August may have: 'Does China have any regulation against insults to the flag or national emblems?' 'After eating or drinking at restaurants or hotels, if you have diarrhea or vomiting symptoms, how do you lodge a complaint?'
The advisory to foreigners, posted on the committee’s Web site, but only in Chinese, provides answers for each question in a deadpan style. (Burning or soiling the Chinese flag or emblems is a criminal offense; food poisoning symptoms are to be reported to the local health department.) Some of the rules, like a ban on religious or political banners or slogans at Olympic sites, appear aimed at preventing protests of China’s crackdown in Tibet this year and other Chinese policies." Read more>>

USA: priviledged classes at airport security?

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff went to Baltimore-Washington International Airport two weeks ago to inaugurate a program called Checkpoint Evolution. It introduces 600 “whole-body imagers” that replicate, in schematic 3-D, everything a passenger is hiding under his or her clothing — not only hypothetical daggers, pistols, knuckle dusters and cocaine but also actual moles, scars, sores, nipples and genitalia. And all of it so vividly that the A.C.L.U. calls the imagers “virtual strip-search” machines. But Checkpoint Evolution is about comfort as well as security. Pleasant music, better lighting and open spaces are supposed to change the airport-security experience “in a way that lowers the general stress level,” Chertoff said. He failed, however, to mention a thing about checkpoints that drives stress levels to insurrectionary heights: the segregated security lines that certain airports and airlines permit. Many first- and business-class passengers, as well as frequent fliers, zip right to the metal detectors while coach passengers snake through lines for waits than can exceed half an hour. If Americans will put up with that, they’ll put up with being seen naked.

Source: New York Times; full article by Christopher Caldwell here>>.

"Cuba lifts ban on citizens staying in tourist hotels"

According to the International Herald Tribune, "New President Raul Castro's government has lifted a ban on Cubans staying at hotels previously reserved for foreigners, ending another restriction that had been especially irksome to ordinary citizens.
'They have informed us that with a national ID card, anyone can stay here,' an employee at the Ambos Mundos Hotel in Old Havana. She insisted on anonymity because she is not authorized to speak to foreign reporters, but said non-guests who are Cuban nationals will also be allowed to pay to enjoy other hotel services, including gyms." Read more>>

"SUIT VS. LADIES' NIGHTS"

As reported by Andy Geller, at the New York Post, "A Manhattan lawyer has filed a class-action suit against some of New York's most sizzling hot spots, such as Copacabana and China Club, claiming their ladies' nights discriminate against men.
Attorney Roy Den Hollander says that by offering lower - or no - admission fees and shorter waiting times behind the velvet rope, the clubs violate the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law.
His suit seeks an end to the practice of admitting women at a lower price than men." Read more>>

Virgin Blue accused of discriminating against disabled passengers

Australian airline Virgin Blue faced action in the Federal Court in Sydney over its policy on disabled passengers.
Two wheelchair users were told they would have to pay for carers to travel with them, even though both live independently. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre says it has been contacted by at least 100 other people across the country with similar concerns. The centre's CEO Robin Banks says Virgin Blue is creating unlawful, discriminatory hurdles for people with disabilities.

The case is due to resume in September.

Source: abc.net.au. Read the full article here.

UK: hostess sues airline for religious discrimination

An hostess of British Midland was prevented to take the bible on board of flights to Saudi Arabia. She is reported to have now sued the airline because she considers having been victim of an "unacceptable religious discrimination". The airline stated it has only followed indications given by the British Foreign Office not to take to Saudi Arabia "drugs, alcohol, pork products and religious books except the Koran".

Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/4061.

British Airways: debate on religious emblems continued

British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered an astonishing put-down to the head of British Airways in the row over staff wearing personal religious symbols.
The issue came up at a conference of business leaders in the Confederation of British Industry. BA chairman Martin Broughton sought Tony Blair's support for the airline's robust ban on religious emblems worn by uniformed staff on duty, given that the police, the Army and other government uniformed staff have an identical policy in relation to crosses outside of the uniform.

However, Blair's responded that there were battles really not worth fighting. Being a a fan of BA and its management, his advice was "just to do the sensible thing".

Read more here.

British Airways to review its policy on crucifixes

British Airways will review its uniforms policy following a row over a check-in worker told to stop wearing a crucifix.
Ms Nadia Eweida, 55, has refused to return to work at Heathrow Airport since bosses told her last month she could not wear a necklace bearing a small cross over her uniform. She said she did not want to hide the cross because "Jesus has to be glorified". She lost an appeal against the decision last week, although she has the right to a second appeal. Ms Eweida said the airline's decision was good news, and she hoped it would help her win her case.
Leading figures in the Church of England had appealed to the airline to reconsider its stand. British Airways announced the review hours after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said talks had begun on a possible sale of the Church of England's £10.25 million ($25 million) worth of shares in the airline.

Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/3803

USA: Breastfeeding moms protest discrimination by airline

After a nursing mother was removed from a Delta commuter flight operated by Freedom Airlines from Burlington, Vermont, to New York last month, breastfeeding mothers today will conduct "nurse-ins" against Delta Air Lines at more than a dozen U.S. airports.

Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/3759

"Out of shape" hostesses to fight Indian airline

Indian air hostesses embroiled in a legal battle with their employer after they were grounded for being out of shape said the move was unconstitutional and have vowed to win back lost wages. Eleven women say they have suffered from low self-esteem after being grounded by state-run Indian airline for being between a few hundred grams and 3 kg over the firm's specified weight limit. Lawyers for the company, known as Indian Airlines until last year, say the women are contractually obliged to meet weight guidelines for health reasons. The restrictions also apply to the 200 male stewards working for the airline, 20 of whom were also barred from work. The women will take their case to Delhi's High Court in March, demanding the company pay their salaries for the time they were grounded.
Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/3682

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

Tourism pionneer jailed in Iran

Hamid Reza Talebi, CEO of the International Tourist Organization and head of the International Council of Tourism Partners in Iran, was thrown behind bars last week by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government. Charges against him include spreading lies and inciting the old regime to challenge the current government. Talebi was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of $15,000.
Read more here.

Order against human rights campaigner to stay away from Frankfurt Airport confirmed

German Supreme Court (BGH) confirmed an order by Frankfurt Airport against a human rights campaigner to stay away from the airport premises. The campaigner had handed out flyers to passengers containing a protest against deportation of a foreigner and asking passengers to refuse to turn off their cell phones in order to impede take off. BGH held that the airport was entitled to prevent the campaigner from entering its premises as she caused disruption of the airport operation. The campaigner could not rely on her freedom of free speech as there was no obligation of the airport to tolerate interferences in air traffic (BGH 20.01.2006, V ZR 134/05).

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

Lockerbie: Appeal

Abdelbaset Megrahi has lodged an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights alleging breaches of his human rights in his trial by the Scottish High Court of Justiciary and in his imprisonment in Glasgow.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

British Dependent Territories

The UK Government has announced that it intends to give citizens of the British Dependent Territories the right of abode in the UK. This will apply to approximately 150 000 people in the following territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Pitcairn Island, Saint Helena and its dependencies and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The people of the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar already have this right. In exchange, these territories will have to change some of their laws to meet international standards on law enforcement co-operation, money laundering, transparency and independent financial regulation. They will also have to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

(Originally posted by John Downes)