Author: admin

I arrived in Brussels 40 years ago as a student, scarred by the legacy of two deadly wars between India and Pakistan and their continued hostility. I was ready to be seduced by a story of peace and cooperation, where former rivalries were reconciled through the sharing of trade and sovereignty. EU and I were a perfect fit.It may seem impossible, but Belgium attracted me and loved me. University life was multicultural and exciting. Fulfilling a long-held dream, I became a journalist, covering EU foreign policy and European global trade and aid policy, and later writing and commenting.The EU ‘project’…

Oktoberfest originated in Germany to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Since 1810, Oktoberfest has been an important part of Bavarian culture and is held in late September or early October. Additionally, Oktoberfest in the United States is a celebration of Bavarian culture, traditions, music, food, and of course beer. With our list of the top 5 US cities for Oktoberfest, readers just might discover a new favorite festival where they can raise a beer and sing along to Oompa and His Band. The art of brewing beer can be traced back to 3500-3100…

Editor’s note: We earn commissions from Forbes Advisor partner links. Commissions do not influence editors’ opinions or ratings. National parks are attractive destinations year-round, but there are a few that really stand out in the fall. While fall foliage and wildlife activities are natural attractions at some parks, there are other benefits to traveling from September to November. These nine parks are prime fall destinations, but they don’t have the crowds found at typical foliage parks. Acadia National Park, Maine getty Acadia is a winner on our vacation lists year-round, but fall foliage lovers note that Acadia takes fall foliage…

To investigate trends in aircraft noise exposure by airport and exposed population, we used noise exposure contours for U.S. airports, identified airport characteristics, and estimated exposed populations by race and ethnicity.Noise evaluationWe obtained noise exposure contours (Figure 1) for 90 U.S. airports from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe). The airports included in this study constitute 18% of the Part 139 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified airports, but accounted for 88% of the total number of in-flight aircraft in 2015. [26]. Noise contours were modeled for the years 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015.…

Economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to remain strong, although risks to the outlook are increasing, according to a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Important pointsThe Asian Development Bank has cut its growth forecast for developing Asia, citing China’s real estate crisis and high interest rates, posing risks to the region’s economy. A slump in China’s real estate sector is weighing on regional growth prospects, while rising global interest rates are increasing risks to economic growth. Thailand’s growth forecast for 2023 has been revised upward from 3.3% to 3.5%, and is expected to remain at 3.7%…

Singapore’s robust recovery in travel has captured the attention of many of the region’s wealthiest hoteliers. At least 10 billionaires, including Hong Kong’s Pansy Ho and Indonesia’s Sukanto Tanoto, are currently investing S$6 billion ($4.4 billion) to build new hotels and expand their businesses across the city-state. ) or more. Singapore’s main shopping district on Orchard Road will be home to some of the city-state’s newest hotels as part of plans to revitalize the area. UOL Group is already busy developing the site of the Faber House building on Orchard Road into a 19-storey hotel that promises to offer 200…

voluntary recommendation All member states of the World Heritage Convention voluntarily nominate their sites with the best natural or cultural attributes. Among other requirements, the site must be authentic and meet at least one of several very strict criteria for universal value. Each signatory to this Convention pledges to maintain sovereignty over its heritage sites, take responsibility for their protection, and support the conservation efforts of other countries. Direct authority over individual property rests with the responsible national, state, tribe, local government, or private organization. The Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service, is responsible for identifying and…

Concerns about China’s real estate sector are compounding fears about the health of the country’s broader economy and the viability of its investment-led development model — fears that are resonating most loudly in Southeast Asia. As China’s economy struggles for multiple interrelated reasons, largely the result of government policies and top leader Xi Jinping’s desire for control, Southeast Asian countries that have been buoyed by Chinese growth for three decades are facing knock-on effects on trade, investment and lending. At the same time, China faces thorny economic problems. First, there has been no recovery in economic consumption after the pandemic.…

Enjoy reds, golds and browns as the weather changes. advertisementIt’s almost that time of year again, with longer nights, cooler temperatures, and the smell of pumpkin spice lattes. Autumn not only (hopefully) provides relief from the extreme heatwaves of summer, it also delights us with stunning fall colors.Why not throw on your favorite sweater and take a romantic trip to Europe to see autumn’s best bronze foliage?Here are our top 7 fall destinations for crunchy leaves.7. Lake Bled, SloveniaWith some of Slovenia’s most spectacular views, Lake Bled is home to the country’s only natural island. It takes about an hour…

In the short period since Hong Kong fully reopened for travel and tourism in February this year, the number of arrivals to Hong Kong from Southeast Asia has been strong. From January to July 2023, 971,000 tourists visited the region, representing 6 percent of the total number of visitors to Hong Kong (16.4 million). The strongest markets are the Philippines (36%), Thailand (23%), Singapore (18%), Indonesia (12%) and Malaysia (11%). HKTB has a series of events planned for the coming months, including the Wine and Dine Festival 2023 in October, and the Christmas Light Up and New Year Countdown Party…