International space Station awaiting tourist

The orbital path of the International Space Station (ISS) was successfully adjusted Saturday to accommodate the landing of the world's sixth space tourist in eight days time, Interfax reported citing Russian space programme officials.

Multi-millionaire US businessman Garriott is the son of US astronaut Owen Garriott. He paid more than 30 million dollars (20 million euros) to be launched into space from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, according to Space Adventures, the US-based company that organised his trip.

Source: eTurboNews; read full article here>>.

Russia: end to space tourism in 2010

On Cosmonaut's Day (April 12th 2008) the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) announced that they will cease it's $40,000,000-a-flight space tourism enterprise.

Read full article here>>.

"Airlines black list: Commission adopts new measures against unsafe carriers"

As just stated by the EU Press Room, "Today, the European Commission adopted the fourth update of the Community list of airlines banned in the European Union. This list includes an operating ban of all Indonesian airlines as well as of the Angolan flag carrier, TAAG Angolan airlines, and of Volare Aviation Enterprise from Ukraine. The restrictions previously imposed on Pakistan International Airlines are modified. In addition, airlines from Russia (10) Bulgaria (6) and Moldova (8) have to stop their operations in the European Union on the basis of new measures adopted by these States following consultations with the European Commission."

This Press Release is available in full text.

Child Porn Trial in Atlanta: Sex Tourism charges dropped

A Gainesville anesthesiologist who vehemently proclaimed his innocence in jailhouse interviews went on trial this Monday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta on child pornography charges. In April 2004, his arrest at New York's JFK airport was heralded by federal prosecutors as a major case in the battle against so-called "sex tourism." He was indicted under a new law that allowed U.S. citizens to be prosecuted for sex crimes against children committed in other countries. Prosecutors believed the anesthesiologist traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, and Prague, Czech Republic, to have sex with young boys.
But the government through a series of revised indictments dropped the sex tourism and molestation charges, replacing them with child pornography charges.

Read the full story in Gainesville Times here.

Russian Duma adopts law for financial protection of tourists

The State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday adopted a government-proposed law ensuring financial protection of Russian tourists from unscrupulous tourist firms. The document provides for bank guarantees to redeem losses or insurance of civil responsibilities. Dishonest firms that fail to meet their commitments regarding the level and quality of services offered, will be fined. A novelty in the law is the size of the liability sum fixed in the contract of insurance of tourist operator’s responsibility, or in a bank guarantee. It cannot be less than five million roubles for international tourist operators, 500,000 roubles for domestic tourist operators, and five million roubles for operators carrying out activities in the domestic and international markets.

Read more here.

Demolition of Famous Hotel

Work has begun on the demolition of the Intourist Hotel, one of Moscow's most famous landmarks. It was erected in 1970 to cater for foreign tourists. It was notorious for its Cold War standards, with surly staff, buged hotel rooms and illegal money changers. It was also the setting for many spy novels. The hotel is no longer needed as there is a plethora of western style hotels in the city. The hotel will be mourned by few as it was a large concrete and glass monstrosity.

(Originally posted by John Downes)