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☆ Scientists discover the world’s largest coral — so big it can be seen from space
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The world’s largest coral has just been discovered in the southwest Pacific Ocean, scientists announced Wednesday. It’s three times larger than the previous record-breaker in American Samoa, according to Pristine Seas, and longer than a blue whale, the planet’s biggest animal. Steve Spence/National Geographic Pristine SeasA diver swims alongside the mega coral, which is made up of nearly 1 billion polyps. “Making a discovery of this significance is the ultimate dream,” said Paul Rose, a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition leader. Yet while the mega coral remains vulnerable, he believes its health and longevity do provide a glimmer of hope.

Persons: CNN CNN —, “, ”, Enric Sala, Manu San Félix, It’s “, Steve Spence, Féliz, it’s, Paul Rose, Dennis Marita, Sala, Derek Manzello, Manzello, Emily Darling, Darling, ” Sala Organizations: CNN CNN, National Geographic, Geographic, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, International Union for Conservation, Reef, CNN, Wildlife Conservation Society, COP29, UN Locations: Ocean, Solomon Islands, American Samoa, Solomon, Indonesia, Philippines, Baku, Azerbaijan

☆ Monkeys killed by soil infection at Hong Kong zoo, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong Reuters —Melioidosis, a bacterial infection, was responsible for killing at least nine monkeys at a Hong Kong zoo, authorities said, as a further two died over the weekend, taking the total to 11 in the past week. Part of the zoo, built in 1860 and the oldest park in Hong Kong, has remained shut since October 14 when authorities reported the first batch of monkey deaths. Autopsies found a large amount of the melioidosis-inducing bacteria in the monkeys organs, which likely came from soil near the monkeys habitat, they said. Visitors look at a buff-cheeked gibbon at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens after 11 monkeys died of sepsis following melioidosis infection in the past week, in Hong Kong on October 21, 2024. Tyrone Siu/ReutersKevin Yeung, the city’s culture and tourism minister, told local public broadcaster RTHK that works at the zoo required digging up the soil near where the monkeys lived.

Persons: Hong Kong Reuters —, gibbon, Tyrone Siu, Kevin Yeung, “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong Reuters, Authorities, Hong Kong Zoological, RTHK, Workers Locations: Hong Kong, Hong

☆ A second Sphere venue announced, this one for Abu Dhabi
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Abu Dhabi is set to become the next location to showcase multimedia entertainment in the unique spherical structure, the Sphere Entertainment Co. and Abu Dhabi tourism officials announced on Tuesday. The planned venue aligns with the capital of the United Arab Emirates’ Tourism Strategy 2030 aimed at “further establishing Abu Dhabi as a vibrant hub for culture and innovation,” said H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, in a news release. The partnership for the second installment, between Abu Dhabi tourism officials and Sphere Entertainment, is “subject to finalization of definitive agreements,” the news release said. It would involve a “franchise initiation fee” paid to Sphere Entertainment for the right to build the venue.

Persons: ”, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, we’re, ” Al Mubarak, CNN’s Brandon Griggs Organizations: CNN, Sphere Entertainment, United, Department of Culture, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture, Tourism Locations: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tourism Abu Dhabi, Las Vegas, Vegas

☆ China's Golden Week holiday signals persistent consumer caution
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Passengers line up to check in at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport on October 6, 2024 as China's week-long National Day holiday draws to a close. China News Service | China News Service | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China's Golden Week holiday affirmed a trend in more cautious spending, while consumers put greater emphasis on experiences. The Golden Week holiday in China commemorates the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1. "The Golden Week consumption could still suggest a modest recovery versus August, in our view, due to trade-in subsidies (for appliances and autos) and consumption vouchers issued by the local governments," Peng said. During Golden Week, mainland China recorded 765 million domestic trips, up from both the prior year and before the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Trip.com, Kenneth Chow, Oliver Wyman, Chow, It's, Christine Peng, Peng Organizations: Chengdu Tianfu International, China News Service, Getty, BEIJING, China Film Administration, Consumers, CNBC, UBS, Ministry of Culture, Tourism Locations: Chengdu, China, People's Republic of China, Greater China, Japan, Thailand

☆ China's economic woes dampen 'Golden Week' holiday travel
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Passengers arrive at the Beijing railway station on the first day of peak travel ahead of the National Day holidays in China's capital city on Sept. 29, 2023. China is expecting to see more travelers during Golden Week, but the country's persistent economic woes will likely continue to weigh on overall spending this holiday season. Prices for both domestic and outbound flights during the National Day period declined compared to last year, according to report by Trip.com released last month. During the Golden Week holiday last year, China saw domestic tourism revenue reach 753 billion yuan ($107.37 billion). By comparison, a single-day record of 20.7 million trips were made on May 1, the start of China's Labor Day holiday.

Persons: Shaun Rein, Rein, Trip.com, Alicia Garcia Herrero Organizations: Golden, Authorities, Ministry of Transport, China Market Research Group, Ministry of Culture, National Railway Administration, China's Labor, Tourism Locations: Beijing, China's, China, Tourism

☆ Sümela, Turkey: The ancient monastery hanging from a cliff
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policyCNN —If its ancient walls could talk, Sümela Monastery in eastern Turkey would have quite a few stories to tell. “The Virgin Mary is a holy person for the Muslim people also. “The sultans considered Sümela a sacred place and helped the monastery by giving the monks donations and more land,” he adds. Sümela was popular with Christian and Muslim pilgrims, and an active Greek Orthodox monastery, until the early 20th century. Many of the Greeks living in the Pontic Alps and nearby Black Sea coast chose to relocate to Greece, including the monks of Sümela Monastery.

Persons: “ We’ve, Levent Alniak, Senol Aktaş, Virgin Mary, Sümela, Jesus, Mary, St, Ignatius, Öznur, who’s, Sümela’s, Barnabas, Sophronios, Luke the, ” Alniak, Soumela Organizations: CNN, Ottomans, Turkish, Rock Church, Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, van, Turkish Airlines, Ramada Plaza, Radisson Locations: Sümela, Turkey, Roman, Trabzon province, “, Sofia, Istanbul, Ottoman, Black, Greece, Sümela Monastery, Altindere, Nea Sumela, Constantinople, Altındere, Trabzon, Coşandere

☆ Futuristic designs unveiled for ‘world’s greenest highway’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Not content with Dubai having the tallest building, the deepest pool or the highest hotel, urban design firm URB hopes to add one more superlative feather to the city’s cap: the world’s “greenest” highway. The green highway, pictured in this render, would also include a network of footpaths and green community spaces. URB‘A unique set of challenges’Creating the world’s “greenest” highway in a desert city isn’t easy, though. Pictured in this rendering, designs for the Nexgen Sustainable City, which URB has designed for Cairo. URB A Dubai developer is creating green designs for the city Prev NextAn urban utopiaThis isn’t URB’s first foray into utopian future city design.

Persons: URB, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Baharash, ” Bagherian, ”, Baharash Bagherian, ’, Bagherian, — Organizations: CNN, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, European Union, “, Hub, Agri Locations: Dubai, ”, “ Dubai, URB “ Dubai, UAE, Hong Kong, URB, Yiti, Oman, Yas, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, City

☆ Bronze Age-style ship sails the Persian Gulf 4,000 years after it was designed
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Writings on an ancient clay tablet have allowed experts to reconstruct a Bronze Age ship made of reeds and sail it on a maiden voyage off the coast of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is the world’s largest reconstruction of a Bronze Age Magan boat, according to the team. The research project’s goals were to uncover ancient craftsmanship techniques, determine the connections between Bronze Age societies and better understand the role Abu Dhabi once played in Bronze Age trade. After passing five days of trials, the ship sailed toward Saadiyat Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi and the open sea on March 2 and 3. “Seeing the Magan Boat sail on the water for the first time actually took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes.”

Persons: Magan, “, ”, Eric Staples, Abu Dhabi, Emily Harris, Umm, Robert B, Jackson, ” Jackson, Peter Magee, Marwan Abdullah Al, Marzouqi, ” Marzouqi, Abdallah Alremaithi, Ayesha Almansoori, Tayla Clelland, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, ” Clelland Organizations: CNN, United, United Arab Emirates, Zayed University, Zayed National Museum, Zayed National Museum , New York University, British Museum, ., Department of Culture Locations: Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Persian, UAE, Oman, Mesopotamia, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Zayed National Museum ,, Zayed National Museum , New York University Abu Dhabi, Umm, South Asia, Girsu, what’s, Saadiyat, Tourism, “

☆ Famous scenic waterfall in China goes viral after video appears to show water coming from pipe
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | Xiaofei Xu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A famous waterfall in China has drawn even more attention than usual – after a video revealed that its majestic falls may be artificially supplied by a water pipe. The Yuntai Waterfall is located in Yuntai Mountain Park, a major tourist attraction in China’s north-central Henan province. A screenshot from a video showing the pipes in Yuntai Waterfall. From WeiboYuntai Mountain Park’s management responded to the video, explaining how changes in the dry season necessitated the extra boost to the falls. The Huangguoshu Waterfall, located in China’s southwestern Guizhou province also suffered in the dry season.

Persons: ”, “ Organizations: CNN, country’s Ministry of Culture, Weibo Locations: China, China’s, Henan, Waterfall, Weibo, Guizhou

☆ Stegosaurus fossil goes on sale - but not everyone is happy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The “exceptional” and “virtually complete” dinosaur fossil, which is 11 feet tall and 20 feet long, will be sold as part of Sotheby’s annual Geek Week. Paleontologists have questioned the sale of such specimens to private bidders, arguing that these finds should be preserved in museums or other public spaces. Nevertheless, that will not stop the auction of the 150-million-year-old fossil from going ahead in New York on July 17. Apex, as it has been nicknamed, is the “finest Stegosaurus specimen to come to market,” Sotheby’s said in a press release Wednesday. It is expected to fetch between $4 million and $6 million, making it one of the most valuable dinosaur fossils ever offered up for sale, the auction house added.

Persons: ” Sotheby’s, Jason Cooper, Sotheby’s, Cooper, “, Steve Brusatte, ”, Sotheby’s Brusatte, “ Sophie, Cassandra Hatton, Maximus ”, Stan Organizations: CNN, Apex, Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, Geek, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture Locations: New York, Apex, Colorado, Morrison, Moffat County , Colorado, Dinosaur, Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s New York, Abu Dhabi, Tourism

☆ Tourism in China surges during May Day holiday but travelers turn frugal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has reported a surge in tourism during the just concluded Labor Day holiday, but travelers cut back on their spending, in a sign that consumption in world’s second largest economy remains sluggish. That was 28% more than the number of trips taken during the Labor Day holiday period in 2019, which lasted only four days. This year’s Labor Day tourism revenue was 166.89 billion yuan ($23.6 billion), only 13.5% higher than the 2019 level. Passengers at Nanjing Railway Station in East China's Jiangsu province on May 5, the last day of the Labor Day holiday. On Monday, a private sector survey showed that the Caixin/S&P Global services PMI fell to 52.5 in April from 52.7 in the previous month.

Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Labor, Tourists, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Passengers, Nanjing Railway, PMI, TD Securities, P Global, National Bureau, Statistics Locations: China, Hong Kong, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu

☆ Here's who qualifies for Turkey's new digital nomad visa and how to apply
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey is the latest country to open its arms to remote workers keen to relocate. Here's what it takes to get the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate for Turkey. Related storiesThe Digital Nomad Identification Certificate, which is the first step to a digital nomad visa, is open to remote workers ages 21 to 55. If approved, it's as simple as applicants receiving a certificate with a barcode that they can use to apply for the digital nomad visa at the Turkish consulate. Earlier this month Italy announced that it would welcome remote workers and their families on renewable digital nomad visas.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, and Tourism Ministry Locations: Turkey, Canada, Italy, Turkish, Russia

☆ Turkey is the latest country to launch a digital nomad visa—find out if you qualify and where to apply
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Turkey is the latest European country to launch a digital nomad visa. The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry announced it is accepting applications from eligible applicants between the ages of 21 and 55. There is only one country in Asia on that list — Russia. In addition, applicants must have a university degree, be employed or self-employed, or have a business contract for a company outside of Turkey. Applicants will also need a passport or a travel document that is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Turkey.

Organizations: and Tourism Ministry Locations: Turkey, Turkish, U.S, Canada, Europe, Asia, Russia

☆ Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Laura He | Marc Stewart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But according to CNN calculations based on official data, the average tourism-related spending per trip was below pre-pandemic levels, as consumer confidence remains weak amid deflationary pressure. However, the most recent holiday season took place over eight days from February 10 to February 18, which was one day more than previous periods. On average, 59.25 million domestic trips per day were made during this holiday period, slightly lower than the 59.29 million trips per day taken in 2019. Movie ticket sales reached a record 8 billion yuan ($1.11 billion) during the eight-day holiday season, according to data released on Sunday by China Film Administration. “The headwinds to growth remain severe and it will take more than a bump in holiday travel for market sentiment to recover,” said Neumann.

Persons: ” Nomura, ”, Frederic Neumann, Neumann, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN, CNN, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Hangzhou East Railway, National Immigration Administration, China Film Administration, HSBC, China Index Holdings, Shenzhen Component Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hangzhou, China's Zhejiang province, Macao, Asia, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ China Lunar New Year travel spending surpasses pre-Covid levels — is consumption revival in sight?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China's travel activity and spending jumped above pre-pandemic levels during the Lunar New year holiday, in a sign that consumption was improving in the world's second-largest economy. Tourists spent nearly 632.7 billion yuan ($87.95 billion) on domestic holiday trips, a 47.3% year-over-year jump, data showed. State broadcaster China Central Television said citing the ministry that domestic trips represented a 19% rise over the same period in 2019 while spending rose 7.7%. The Chinese mainland saw 3.6 million tourist departures and 3.23 million tourist arrivals during the holidays, according to the ministry, as mutual visa-free travel with certain countries hastened the recovery in both outbound and inbound travel during the holidays. However, sustainability of the bump in travel remains uncertain as tourism revenue per trip still remained below the pre-pandemic level.

Persons: Nomura Organizations: country's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Tourists, China Central Television Locations: Sunday, State, China

☆ Coldplay has a request: They really, really want to play in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

He really, really wants to play in China. “I promise we’ll play in China one day,” Martin said to the screaming crowd when he invited two lucky fans up on stage. “You know, we can’t get the permission (to play in China),” he told concertgoers. Chris Martin and Coldplay aren’t alone in wanting to serenade mainland Chinese audiences. Chinese authorities have also been known to vet the content of shows, including setlists and lyrics.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Coldplay, Chris Martin, “, ” Martin, don’t, Coldplay, ”, Martin, concertgoers, “ Coldplay, China …, Paul Kane, Coldplay aren’t, Jon Bon Jovi, Jovi, Bon Jovi’s, Lama, Xi Jinping, –, Xi, Golshifteh Farahani, “ Young, Bjork, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry's, Sam Yeh, Katy Perry, Madonna, James Hetfield, we’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Coldplay, Tourism Ministry, Oasis, Communist Party, China’s Communist Party, Tibet, Municipal, of Culture, Getty, Taiwan, Chinese Culture Ministry, South China Morning Locations: Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Guangzhou, British, Asia, Tokyo, –, Beijing, Shanghai, Macao, Covid, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Worth, Iranian, Buenos Aires, Iran, Taipei, AFP, Taiwan

☆ Social media chatter helps draw 3 million tourists in 3 days to a frigid city in northern China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Yulia Jiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"He said he was happy to see so many southern visitors in Harbin." The plump, bundled-up appearance of Harbin tourists, many hailing from southern China, led to locals calling them "Little Southern Taters" — a nickname that was widely discussed on Chinese social media. Tourists new nickname for Harbin — the shorter "Rbin" — has swept across Chinese social media too, representing their newfound affection for the city. A larger plan to use social media to publicize Harbin and the larger province of Heilongjiang may be at play. He Jing, head of Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, told China Central Television that his department has been focusing on using social media "since the beginning of 2023."

Persons: Yuying Zhang, Zhang, Zhang Zhang, Zhang Tao, she's, —, Andrea Verdelli, Jing, Jiang, Yuetong Jiang Organizations: Harbin Cultural Broadcasting, Tourism Bureau, CNBC, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Street, Bloomberg, Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture, China Central Television, Harbin Locations: Harbin, China, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Tourism, Changchun, China's Jilin

☆ Houthis could cut undersea global internet cables, minister warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An analyst has warned that the Houthis' next target could be undersea internet cables. That analysis warned of the potential shift in the Houthi's strategy in the Red Sea. Such a move would see the Houthis' strategy shift from targeting shipping — itself deeply disruptive to the global economy — to the global flow of information. In the analysis published last week, analyst Emily Milliken at the DC-based Askari Defense & Intelligence described undersea cables as the Houthi's "next casualty." Advertisement"Even partial damage to the undersea cables could eliminate internet access across vast areas, causing major economic disruptions for entire countries," she wrote.

Persons: —, Moammar, Emily Milliken, Milliken, Yemen's, Jake Epstein, group's Organizations: UN, Service, Gulf International, Askari Defense & Intelligence, Telegram, General Telecommunications Corporation, Guardian, Yemen Telecom, of Telecommunications, Information Technology, US Central Command Locations: Aden, Gulf, Red, Yemen, Gaza

LUANG PRABANG, Laos (AP) — Landlocked Laos doesn't have the famous beaches of its neighbors to attract tourists, but instead relies on the pristine beauty of its mountains and rivers and historical sites to bring in visitors. The crown jewel is Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where legend has it that Buddha once rested during his travels. Nestled among the mountains of northern Laos, Luang Prabang was the capital from the 14th to the 16th century before it was moved to Vientiane. “This dam won't generate a lot of power for Laos, it's going to power new shopping malls in Bangkok,” Eyler said of the Luang Prabang project. “In isolation, the potential transboundary harmful effects due to the Luang Prabang hydropower project may not be substantial," the river commission said.

Persons: Buddha, it's, ”, Brian Eyler, Stimson, Eyler, ” Eyler, Philip Hirsch, “, you've, ” Hirsch, Vietnam —, Barbara Curti Organizations: UNESCO, Asia Program, Sustainability, ” UNESCO, Associated Press, Ministry of Information, Foreign Ministry, Heritage, Monitor, Sydney University, CBA, Commission Locations: LUANG PRABANG, Laos, Prabang, Southeast Asia, Washington, Luang Prabang, Luang, Paris, New Delhi, Vientiane, Vietnam, China, Kunming, Thailand, Stimson, Bangkok, British, Cambodia, Asia, asia

☆ Popular Taiwanese rock band Mayday investigated for lip-synching in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Popular Taiwanese rock band Mayday is being investigated by Chinese authorities over allegations of lip-synching during recent concerts, an accusation the band’s label has denied in a controversy that has dominated Chinese social media since the weekend. Live shows routinely use pre-recorded background vocals and music to bolster artists’ live singing performances, especially acts that involve vigorous choreography. Chinese government regulations explicitly ban performers from “deceiving audiences with lip-synching,” and organizers from arranging for performers to lip synch. The band is well known for hosting energetic marathons of music, with each show typically lasting two to three hours. They were among the first Taiwanese musicians to hold large-scale concerts in China after the country lifted its stringent zero-Covid policy and travel restrictions.

Persons: ”, ’, vlogger Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Tourism Bureau, Xinhua, B’in Music, Weibo, CNN, B’in, “ Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shanghai Culture, Weibo, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ Somalia joins east Africa trade bloc as it eyes new opportunities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Abdi Sheikh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOGADISHU, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The East African Community trade bloc admitted Somalia as its eighth member on Friday, a move Somali authorities and businesses hope will boost the country's war-ravaged economy. "Somalia officially joins the East African Community, reinforcing ties and opening new doors for progress and partnership," Daud Aweis, Somalia's minister for information, culture and tourism said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. In turn the bloc's large population and existing customs union and common market are a draw for investors that Somalia can now tap into. Somali businesses said the country's vibrant private sector, which has overcome long odds to stay afloat, would bring a fresh injection of risk-tolerant entrepreneurs into the trade bloc and boost exchanges across the large Somali Diaspora. "It will be simpler for the large Somali Diaspora living across East Africa to access financial services and products," said Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, managing director of Salaam Somali Bank, one of Somalia's major banks.

Persons: Daud Aweis, al, Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, Hereward Holland, Elias Biryabarema, William Maclean Organizations: East African Community, EAC, Democratic, East African, Salaam Somali Bank, Thomson Locations: MOGADISHU, Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Al Qaeda, Shabaab, Mogadishu, al Shabaab, Somali, East Africa

☆ From town hall prep to disaster predictions: Mayors descend on Washington to learn how they can use generative AI in their cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. James Anderson, head of government innovation programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies, introduces mayors to the Mayors Innovation Studio on AI. The focus of Wednesday's session was primarily on how generative AI may streamline processes for cities or offer new insights to make them safer or more efficient. More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. The event sought to give mayors a starting point for how to think about implementing generative AI into their processes.

Persons: Bloomberg Philanthropies, they're, James Anderson, Anderson, Mitch Weiss, Weiss, ChatGPT, chatbot, they've, Breda, Santiago Garces, Garces, Tim Kelly, Kelly, Andrew Ginther, Ginther, we're, Breed Organizations: Bloomberg CityLab's, Innovation, Bloomberg, Congress, Harvard Business School, Boston, CNBC, Center for Government Excellence, Johns Hopkins University, AI, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, YouTube Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Boston, New York City, York, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Columbus , Ohio, coders, India

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — For people around the world, the green leaves that sprouted from a scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree in the heart of devastated Lahaina symbolized hope following Maui’s deadly wildfire this summer. Before colonialism, commercial agriculture and tourism, thousands of breadfruit trees dotted Lahaina; the fire charred all but two of the dozen or so that remained. By contrast, researchers believe breadfruit and kukui nut — now the state tree of Hawaii — were among the many edible plants Polynesian voyagers brought around 1,000 years ago. Efforts to revive the banyan and other important surviving trees have included trucking in water, applying compost extract and testing soil. But replanting breadfruit in urban areas comes with challenges, said Steve Nimz, an arborist on Oahu who has been helping restore Lahaina’s trees.

Persons: landscapers, ”, Noa Kekuewa Lincoln, King Kamehameha, ulu, ” Kekona, Lahaina’s, replanting, Steve Nimz, “, Hokuao Pellegrino, ” Pellegrino, replant, Pellegrino, he's, reintegrating breadfruit, ___ Komenda Organizations: University of Hawaii, Development Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina, ulu, Maui, Manoa, U.S, India, Lele, Hilo, Lincoln, Oahu, Waikapu, West Maui, “, Tacoma , Washington

☆ China's domestic tourism is finally back to pre-pandemic levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Both figures were lower than what Chinese state media had earlier cited the ministry as predicting: 896 million trips and 782.5 billion yuan in domestic tourism revenue. Golden Week domestic tourism revenue was 753.43 billion yuan ($103.24 billion) — a 1.5% increase from that in 2019, according to China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism . The number of domestic tourist trips rose by 4.1% from 2019 to 826 million during the latest eight-day holiday, the ministry said. BEIJING — China's big "Golden Week" holiday saw domestic tourism rebound to around pre-pandemic levels, while overseas travel had yet to fully recover, according to official figures. That was also below earlier predictions, reported by state media, which forecast nearly 1.6 million trips across the border a day.

Persons: Morgan, Robin Xing, Morgan Stanley, Trip.com, Jane Sun, CNBC's Eunice Yoon Organizations: China, Golden, China's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, BEIJING, National Immigration Administration, China's Labor Locations: China, Beijing, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, France, Europe

☆ China's Golden Week: expected consumption boom disappoints
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has concluded its Golden Week holiday on a muted note, with key travel and spending data showing weaker-than-expected recovery in consumption amid a wider economic slump. Before the holiday, the ministry had expected domestic travel to hit 896 million trips, and tourism spending to reach 782.5 billion yuan ($107 billion). According to the National Immigration Administration, on average 1.48 million people crossed the border every day during the Golden Week holiday. Weakness at the box officeChina’s box office hit multi-year lows during the holiday week. A recovery in domestic consumption not related to the Golden Week also fell short of expectations.

Persons: ” Goldman Sachs, Tesla, BYD Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, National Immigration Administration, Shenyang North Railway, Stringer, Getty, Citi, Entertainment, Tencent, China Passenger Car Association Sunday, CNN, EV Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, China's, Liaoning, AFP, Tourism

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