GUYANA: Brazilian Charged With Illegal Entry After Cycling From Brazil To Guyana

A Brazilian man who told the court that he used a bicycle to get to Guyana for a better life was this morning charged with entering Guyana illegally.

Jose Lopez Ferreira pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that, between March 30, 2019 and April 2, 2019, at Lethem, he entered Guyana by crossing the land frontier and did not present himself to an immigration officer.

The 50-year-old appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The man, who spoke through an interpreter, admitted, “Yes I am guilty. I rode my bike from Lethem to Guyana to work and get a better life.”

Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that, on April 10, 2019, the defendant was stopped by ranks in the Berbice Division who were conducting a stop-and-search operation at the Berbice Bridge.

When asked to produce his passport and travel documents, the defendant failed to do so.

Hence, he was arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The court heard, with the aid of an interpreter, that while in custody, he admitted that he is not the owner of a passport.

The Magistrate, after listening to the facts, fined Ferreira $30,000 or, in default, four weeks of imprisonment.

Upon paying the fine or serving the time, he will be escorted to the nearest port of exit and sent back to Brazil.


Tourism Observer

BRAZIL: Explore And Enjoy Santa Teresa's Historic Character, Cultural Life And Standard Of Living.

Santa Teresa is the name of a neighborhood in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is located on top of the Santa Teresa hill, by the centre of Rio, and is famous for its winding, narrow streets which are a favourite spot for artists and tourists.

The neighborhood originated around the Santa Teresa Convent, built in the 1750s on the Desterro hill. At the end of the 19th and early 20th century it was an upper class borough, as testified by its many opulent villas.

Santa Teresa ceased being an upper class neighbourhood long ago, but it has been revived as a fashionable hotspot. It is home to several artists and art studios and galleries. The offer of restaurants and bars is also varied.

One of Santa Teresa's most illustrious inhabitants was Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maia, an art collector who lived in his Chacara do Ceu mansion in the neighborhood.

The estate was turned into a museum or Museu da Chacara do Ceu and its exhibits include works by Matisse, Jean Metzinger, Eliseu Visconti, Di Cavalcanti, and Candido Portinari.

It is located near the cultural center Parque das Ruinas. In 2006, some paintings were stolen, and have not yet been recovered.

Another museum is the Museu do Bonde, which tells the history of the famous Santa Teresa Tram since its historic origins. A ride on the tram is a popular attraction among tourists.

It sports crossing the old Carioca Aqueduct, going through picturesque streets of the Santa Teresa neighbourhood and wonderful views of the city downhill.

The neighborhood arose in the 1750s on the Morro Desterro or Right Hill, emerging from the eponymous Catholic convent. It was one of Rio de Janeiro's first expansions out of the initial Portuguese settlement in the city center.

Initially inhabited by the upper class of the time, several houses and mansions were built, inspired by French architecture of the time, many of which are standing today. All throughout its history, Santa Teresa received many European immigrants.

Around 1850 many people, fleeing the yellow fever epidemic in the city, flocked to the neighborhood. As it was at a higher altitude, Santa Teresa was less affected by the epidemic than the surrounding neighborhoods.

In 1872, a tramline was constructed to connect Santa Teresa to downtown Rio de Janeiro, which further advanced the access to the neighborhood. The tram ran up the streets of Rua Joaquim Murtinho and Rua Almirante Alexandrino, crossing the Carioca Aqueduct.

Initially, the tram was drawn by mules, before it was equipped with engines and an electrified grid in 1896. The tramcars' colours ranged from green, silver and blue, but came to be painted bright yellow after complaints from residents who said that the tram disappeared amid the greenery of the neighborhood.

The iconic yellow trams or bondes has become a symbol of Santa Teresa.

By means of organized demonstrations, residents were able to preserve the historic tram system by convincing the government to release funds for the streetcars.

After an accident with a tram in 2011 that killed five people, all service on the tram line was suspended for four years, in order to modernize the system.

Over time, Santa Teresa lost its status as an upscale neighborhood, like many of the historic districts of Rio's South zone. In recent years however, it has become a district of cultural interest because of its architectural value and prime location.

In 2009 the city council started a gentrification program to revitalize the neighborhood. Walls were built to stop the surrounding favelas from growing; and taxes were imposed on water, energy and gas supply in order to decrease the number of poor people.

Traditionally Santa Teresa is a renowned gathering place for intellectuals, academics, artists and politicians, who are attracted by its historic character, cultural life and standard of living.

Due to this profile, it is a former district of opinion with political participation in popular movements. There are also a large number of NGOs who provide services and support to the favelas located around Santa Teresa.

Santa Teresa is also a vibrant gastronomic center, mainly around the Largo dos Guimaraes, as well as an artistic center.

Due to the large number of artists and art studios, the neighborhood has come to be called Rio's Montmartre.

The bohemian lifestyle has contributed to Santa Teresa being a main tourist attraction of Rio de Janeiro, as well as its recognition as one of the most unique neighborhoods in the world in 2016.

The neighborhood, affectionately called Santa by locals, is composed of several steep staircases, slopes, cobbled roads and tortuous alleys, which provide the character of the neighborhood.

These sloping roads connect Santa Teresa to the surrounding districts of Centro, Gloria, Laranjeiras, Fatima, Cosme Velho, Catumbi, Catete and Rio Comprido.

At the highest point of Santa Teresa, which gives access to Tijuca National Park and Corcovado, there is a broad panoramic view of the city.

Rio de Janeiro’s Santa Teresa neighborhood provides visitors with the quintessential Brazilian experience. Winding narrow streets and colorful historical buildings characterize the bohemian area, while from the top of Santa Teresa Hill, some of Rio’s best views of lush landscapes and Guanabara Bay unfold.

The Selaron steps are one of the most famous tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. Just bordering the neighborhood of Lapa, a trip to Santa Teresa would not be complete without taking a photo on these iconic flights.

The steps were designed by Chilean artist Jorge Selaron and feature intricate, brightly colored mosaic tiles. Selaron collected the steps’ tiles from the streets of Rio and then accepted additional tiles donated by visitors from all around the world; a true celebration of global unity and Brazilian energy.

Located in the center of the Santa Teresa neighborhood, Museu da Chácara do Ceu is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most comprehensive art museums.

Deriving from the private art collection of the Brazilian businessman Raymundo Ottoni de de Castro Mayo, the museum features Brazilian art, European works and the Brasiliana collection, which consists of vintage Brazilian memorabilia.

The museum prides itself on showing extremely private and rare pieces of art to the public, making a trip to the museum a valuable one.

There’s no better way to get to Santa Teresa from Rio’s city center than on the tram. The historic, bright yellow tram takes passengers from the center of Rio de Janeiro up the Santa Teresa Hill and ends in the Santa Teresa neighborhood.

Built in 1877, the Santa Teresa Tram is the oldest electric railway in Latin America. Visitors interested in the detailed history of the tram should visit the Museu do Bonde.

Santa Teresa’s municipal public park is located in the ruins of the old mansion belonging to Laurinda Santos, a patron who would gather artists and intellectuals for social gatherings in the early 20th century.

The mansion has been partially restored and is now used as a cultural center hosting various exhibitions, events and special programs. The ruins’ grounds are also stunning.

Take a walk around the old mansion, imagine some of Brazil’s finest inhabitants conversing over sophisticated topics a century ago, and enjoy the breathtaking views of Rio and Guanabara Bay.

If you’re looking for something to do at night, then look no further than Armazem Sao Thiago, Santa’s Teresa’s trendiest restaurant and bar.

Situated in a historic warehouse dating back to 1917, the bar strives to keep the location’s name and appearance alive for the sake of tradition, a value close to every Brazilian’s heart.

The bar’s ambiance is old school Brazilian and feels authentic, as almost everything in it is an antique. Enjoy the historic atmosphere while drinking a Brazilian beer and chatting with a local sitting nearby.

Although Mercado das Pulgas translates to, simply, flea market, Mercado das Pulgas is not what it seems. Mercado das Pulgas is actually a samba celebration that happens every first and third Saturday of the month from 8pm to midnight. Entry to the party is only 10 Brazilian Reais.

Visitors get to join locals and enjoy the national genre of Samba complete with local drummers, all while guzzling down cold Caiprinhas, Brazil’s national drink. There’s no better way to experience the native culture.

Stroll through the winding streets of Santa Teresa, and its oft-heard description rings true. This bohemian region of Rio de Janeiro is the work of the artists, writers and musicians who live there and who have transformed aging mansions into creative studios and artistic hotspots. Examine its relaxed vibe and hippy ambience.

This captivating hillside neighborhood overlooks Rio’s downtown and serves to highlight the many facets the city has to offer other than beachside antics. The area is dotted with 19th-century mansions – some crumbling wrecks, others carefully preserved in their former glory –which serve as a reminder of Santa Teresa’s economic boom.

In the 1800s, it was mostly unreachable, with a few dispersed farms and a forest refuge for escaped slaves, but the coffee industry golden days brought rich industrialists to the hills, along with their boastful mansions. Nowadays, it’s an artistic retreat and a popular tourist go-to area.

Head to Largo dos Guimaraes, which is the main square in the centre of Santa Teresa. It’s also the drop-off point of the neighbourhood’s famous bonde or tram and the key meet up spot.

From here, some of the area’s best bars and restaurants are just a short walk away.

Black-and-white photos of famous musicians, colourful posters and indigenous handicrafts line the walls of Bar do Mineiro, one of Rio’s most beloved Brazilan restaurants. Try the feijoada for a taste of classic Brazilian food, and wash it down with a strong yet tasty caipirinha.

Espirito Santa serves Amazon-inspired dishes to its guests, who can sit on the terrace that overlooks the city below. After eating, head to Explorer Bar for gorgeous cocktails that excel in both taste and looks.

Then move on to Mercado das Pulgas, which has roda de samba or live samba bands on the weekends, attracting a young party crowd.

Parque das Ruinas, the skeleton of an old mansion, offers wonderful views of Guanabara Bay. The site is also an important cultural center, with theater, circus and music programs throughout the week.

The Museu da Chacara do Ceu holds a small yet comprehensive collection of art, including both national and international works, as well as vintage Brazilian memorabilia.

In October, Santa Teresa is home to the Arte de Portas Abertas, a weekend event in which local artists open the doors to their homes and studios in an open-air exhibition.

Casa Cool Beans is a cosy bed-and-breakfast that’s fresh and modern without being too cute. Its ten guest rooms provide an intimate feel, and the lush gardens and pool can be enjoyed on lazy days when the beach just feels that little bit too far away.

For the ultimate luxury retreat, stay at the Hotel Santa Teresa, one of Rio’s finest boutique hotels, which comes equipped with an award-winning restaurant, a spa with full services and gorgeous rooms.

Check airbnb.com for listings, because staying in a local home can give an exclusive peek into the artistic lifestyle of this charmingly tranquil neighborhood.


Tourism Observer

Virado A Paulista Is A Whole-meal Dish From Sao Paulo, Brazil

Virado, also known as virado à Paulista, is a whole-meal dish from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. It dates to the time of the earliest Portuguese settlers to the region.

The dish consists of a platter of cooked beans cooked in sauteed onion, garlic, fat, and salt; dried, toasted manioc flour; a pork chop; fried sausage; breaded and fried plantain; eggs, preferably with the soft yolk; kale, cut into strips and braised in fat; rice; and torresmo, a crisply cooked pork rind.

Virado is traditionally served on Mondays. About 500,000 plates of the dish are served per week in the city of Sao Paulo.

Virado arose spontaneously during the early colonial period of Brazil as a dish of the bandeirantes. The bandeirantes traveled to the interior of Brazil first to capture and enslave native Brazilians, and later to find gold, silver, and diamonds.

They carried beans, pork, and corn flour in their backpacks to the interior of the state. Stored in the backpack, the ingredients turned and mixed, hence the name of the dish, virado.

Virado in the period of the bandeirantes consisted only of beans, usually cooked without salt so as not to harden, maize flour, dried meat, and bacon. Cassava flour was substituted for corn flour after the introduction of the crop to the Sao Paulo region in the 18th century.

The bandeirantes and other early settlers ate virado cold or warmed.

The earliest written reference to virado is in 1602, when Nicolau Barreto made an expedition to present-day Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru.

It is also associated with the monçao, who led expeditions by river into remote areas of the Brazilian interior from the early 18th to the early 19th century.

The dish became a staple of homes and farmsteads in the Sao Paulo region. Homes in Sao Paulo in the early colonial period were severe and lacked the elegance of those in Bahia, Pernambuco, or Rio de Janeiro.

Virado was served at all times of the day with little variation; in this period it consisted of beans, bacon, flour, a piece of pork, smoked linguiça, and kale.

Rice was introduced to virado in the 19th century after the wide-scale introduction to the crop in Brazil; it was cooked in the remains of cooked pork or sausage, and additionally flavored with lard, garlic, and salt.

Dessert served with virado consisted of fresh fruit such as oranges; bananas fried with cinnamon and sugar were also common.

There are several variations of virado, either around the basic ensemble of pork, fried banana, beans mashed with cassava flour, rice, kale, and fried egg. The virado can be prepared with black beans and corn flour.

An early variation of the dish emerged when the bandeirantes turned their expeditions to Minas Gerais, where the dish became known as tutu a mineira.

Tutu a mineira differs from Virado in its use of ground beans; the version in Sao Paulo uses whole beans. One variation served in the interior of the state of Santa Catarina substitutes cooked cabbage for kale.


Tourism Observer

USA: LATAM Airlines Lost A Labradoodle Passenger's Dog

LATAM Airlines has lost a family’s emotional support dog, a labradoodle named Logan, in New York after the pet seemingly failed to board a flight to Paraguay on August 27.

LATAM Airlines based in Chile said that it deeply regrets the situation after the dog belonging to the parents of Connecticut man Jonathan Rolon—disappeared.

The parents had flown out of John F. Kennedy International Airport to Paraguay.

But when they landed, the pooch was nowhere to be seen.

According to Rolon, the airline company informed him the labradoodle never actually boarded the flight due to a ramp issue.

When he contacted the New York airport, Rolon said he was informed that an employee had taken the dog home, where it had then escaped and gone missing

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is a Chilean airline holding company incorporated under Chilean law and headquartered in Santiago.

It is considered the largest airline in Latin America with subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.

Chile's LAN Airlines and Brazil's TAM Airlines signed a non-binding agreement on 13 August 2010, a binding agreement on 19 January 2011, and papers to close the merger on 22 June 2012, with TAM Airlines shareholders agreeing to the takeover by LAN Airlines.

Enrique Cueto, former CEO of LAN, is CEO of LATAM; Mauricio Rolim Amaro, formerly vice-chairman of TAM, became LATAM chairman.

The agreement to establish LATAM was approved by Chilean authorities on 21 September 2011, with 11 restrictions.

These include transferring four landing slots at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport to competitors interested in operating flights to Santiago de Chile's Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport.

Renouncing membership to either the Oneworld or Star Alliance airline alliance.

Restricting the increase in capacity on flights between Brazil and Chile; and opening code-share possibilities and fidelity program membership to interested competitors.

On 14 December 2011, Brazilian authorities approved the agreement, imposing similar restrictions as Chilean authorities.

LATAM would have to choose an alliance by August 2012.

Frequencies between Sao Paulo and Santiago de Chile would have to be reduced. At the time TAM had two pairs of slots while LAN had four, LAN had to relinquish two pairs to competitors interested in using them.

On 7 March 2013, LATAM announced its final decision to choose Oneworld as its global airline alliance; as a result TAM left Star Alliance during the second quarter of 2014 to join Oneworld.

In August 2015, it was announced that all LATAM Airlines Group airlines would fully rebrand as LATAM, with one unified livery to be applied on all aircraft by 2018.

The first of these aircraft were repainted or delivered new in a new LATAM livery in April 2016.

LATAM Airlines Group is currently working on the rebranding process, which is expected to be completed by 2019.

Changes are becoming gradually more evident in physical spaces, on aircraft, at business offices, airport service counters, web sites, uniforms among others.

Some changes are already in place, mainly in passenger travel experiences, such as the new cabin interiors which have been incorporated into the fleet, new VIP lounges in Sao Paulo.

Santiago currently open to the public and forming part of the largest network of frequent flyer lounges in the region, and digital platforms such as the onboard entertainment system for mobile devices.

LATAM Airlines shareholder structure is:

- Chile Cueto Group - 27.91%

- Chile Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones or Chilean Pension Funds - 21%

- Qatar Airways - 10.03%

- Chile Eblen Group - 5.93%

- Chile Bethia Group - 5.5%

- United States American depositary receipts (ADR) - 3.98%

- Brazil Amaro Group - 3%

- Foreign investors - 10.2%

- Others - 12.2%

LATAM Airlines Group is one of the largest airline groups in the world in terms of network connections, with its subsidiaries operating a combined fleet of 315 aircraft providing passenger transport services to 137 destinations in 24 countries.

LATAM Airlines has 18 aircraft providing cargo services to 144 destinations in 29 countries.

LATAM’s main hubs are Santiago de Chile's Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Sao Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport and El Dorado International Airport in Bogota.

The company is exploring the creation of a new hub in northeastern Brazil with the objective of expanding operations between Europe and South America.

Bogota was recently announced as the new hub for the Caribbean.

The airlines majority and minority-owned by LATAM Airlines Group through the primary airlines' various subsidiaries are as follows:

- Chile: LATAM Chile

- Argentina: LATAM Argentina

- Chile: LATAM Cargo Chile

- Chile: LATAM Express

- Colombia: LATAM Colombia

- Colombia: LATAM Cargo Colombia

- Ecuador: LATAM Ecuador

- Mexico: LATAM Cargo Mexico

- Peru: LATAM Peru

- Brazil: LATAM Brasil

- Brazil: LATAM Cargo Brasil

- Paraguay: LATAM Paraguay


Tourism Observer

MOROCCO: Brazilian Cocaine Trafficker Arrested In Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport

Authorities at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport arrested a Brazilian national on Saturday for his alleged involvement in cocaine trafficking.

The 36-year old suspect arrived in Casablanca onboard a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil and was heading to Paris, France, said a statement by the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN).

The alleged smuggler was carrying 65 capsules containing 525 grams of cocaine, the statement added.

Officers suspected the individual was carrying other capsules of cocaine in his stomach. The police took him to Ibn Rochd University hospital’s emergency services in Casablanca for medical examination.

The suspect will be held in custody for further investigation.


Tourism Observer

Enjoy Churrasco

Churrasco is a Spanish and Portuguese term referring to beef or grilled meat more generally, differing across Latin America and Europe, but a prominent feature in the cuisine of Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru and other Latin American countries.

The related term churrascaria or churrasqueria is mostly understood to be a steakhouse.

A churrascaria is a restaurant serving grilled meat, many offering as much as one can eat.

The waiters move around the restaurant with the skewers, slicing meat onto the client's plate.

This serving style is called espeto corrido or rodízio, and is quite popular in Brazil.

In Brazil, churrasco is the term for a barbecue similar to the Argentine, Uruguayan, Paraguayan and Chilean asado which originated in southern Brazil.

It uses a variety of meats, pork, sausage and chicken which may be cooked on a purpose-built churrasqueira, a barbecue grill, often with supports for spits or skewers.

Portable churrasqueiras are similar to those used to prepare the Argentine, Chilean, Paraguayan and Uruguayan asado, with a grill support, but many Brazilian churrasqueiras do not have grills.Only the skewers above the embers.

The meat may alternatively be cooked on large metal or wood skewers resting on a support or stuck into the ground and roasted with the embers of charcoal, wood may also be used, especially in the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

In Nicaragua, the first immigrant group to introduce the term for this cut of beef to the United States restaurant scene in Miami, Fl as early as the 1950s.

It refers to a thin steak prepared grilled and served with a traditional chimichurri sauce- macerated parsley, garlic, peppers, and olive oil sauce.

Although seldom accredited to Brazilians and Argentinians, these two nations' most popular cuts of grilled meats are not churrasco but Rib and Picanha (Brazil) and Entrana respectively.

In Argentina and Uruguay a churrasco refers to any boneless cut of beef that is sliced slightly thin as a steak and grilled over hot coals or on a very hot skillet.

Gauchos would have grilled churrasco as part of their asado, now the national dish of both countries, served with salad and fried or mashed potatoes, and sometimes a fried egg.

In Puerto Rico it always refers to skirt steak, cooked on a barbecue grill. The chimichurri sauce is optional, since the meat is very savory with just a slight hint of sea salt that is sprinkled over the meat during cooking.

It is also customary to replace chimichurri sauce with a guava rum sauce made with spices and 7up or Ajilimojili sauce.

In Ecuador churrasco is a staple food of the Coast Region, specially Guayaquil. The dish's main ingredient is the grilled steak that is seasoned with chimichurri, it is served with plantains, white rice, French fries, a fried egg, and slices of avocado.

In Guatemala, churrasco is regarded as a typical dish, often eaten in familiar gatherings and festive occasions.

It is usually served topped with chirmol, a red sauce containing chopped tomatoes and onions, and accompanied by corn, guacamole, grilled potatoes, stewed black beans, rice and tortillas.

In Chile, churrasco refers to a thin cut of steak which varies depending on the desired quality of the sandwich.

The slices are grilled and served in a -sometimes warmed- local bun called marraqueta, or pan batido in Valparaiso, usually accompanied with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise, in the case of a churrasco italiano.

Another popular dish, churrasco a lo pobre or poor man's churrasco, consists of a churrasco served with French fries, fried egg, and caramelized onions.

In Portugal, Frango de Churrasco with piri piri a kind of salty roasted chicken cooked on the churrasqueira, spiced with hot red chili sauce is very popular.

Portuguese churrasco and chicken dishes are very popular in countries with Portuguese communities, such as Canada, Australia, the United States, Venezuela and South Africa.

The term churrasco is used in former Portuguese colonies—a Churrasco Moçambicano is a grilled meat dish from Mozambique, for instance.

In Galicia, churrasco refers almost exclusively to grilled pork or beef spare-ribs.

Galicians who emigrated to America in the 20th century took with them the recipe for churrasco.

Nowadays, many Galicians of all social classes prepare a churrascada.

In North America, Churrasco is the trademark name for rotisserie/grills manufactured by Hickory Industries, Inc.


Tourism Observer

BRAZIL: Horrible, Tourist Bitten By A Shark Multiple Times

A tourist swimming in waist-deep water off a beach in the eastern tip of Brazil had his arms and legs ripped to shreds in a shark attack that is getting international coverage due to graphic video posted on social media.

The attack happened off Piedade beach in Recife, Brazil, and cell phone video posted on Facebook shows Pablo Melo lying in shock on the beach, while passersby tend to deep cuts to both arms and legs.

Melo, 34, was rushed to a hospital and underwent four hours of surgery, resulting in his right leg being amputated.

Emergency crews were called to the popular tourist beach at 2:40 p.m. Sunday, media outlets report.

A witness, snack vendor Maria Lourenço said that people on the beach seemed to notice the shark before swimmers and they tried to warn tourists splashing in the surf.

Someone started shouting shark, shark because they said they had seen a shark fin.

They tried to alert people in the water and particularly this man, who was near where the shark appeared.

But he didn’t have time to get out of the water before he was attacked many times, she said It was horrible to see.

Their are signs in the area clearly warning of sharks roaming the waters.

Fire department Major Aldo Silva said that Melo was not in deep water when he was attacked.

Mr Melo was swimming near the surf line, which would have been a least waist deep if he stood up, when he was bitten several times, Silva said.

He was probably bitten first on his legs then when he tried to defend himself, the shark reacted to his frantic movements and latched onto his arms.

Melo survived only because two men risked attack to chase the shark away. The two pulled Melo out of the water, and video shows he was conscious, but in shock.

At one point, someone is seen trying to tie a tourniquet around his leg, while others hold cloth to his open wounds.

A crowd of others circles the group, many filming on their cell phones.

Melo was a tourist from the Rio Grande de norte community in Brazil and he was vacationing with his family.
It's believed he was attacked by a bull shark or tiger shark.

The attack was the first of its kind on the area in three years, media outlets reported. However, those native to the area were not surprised.

There are gazzilion signs saying if you get into the water a shark will likely bite and kill you, said a Facebook post by Marcelo De Barros who says he's a native of Recife.



Tourism Observer

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Expanding Routes, Now Flying To Argentina

Ethiopian Airlines launched its inaugural trip from Addis Ababa to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday with an all-female crew.

The flag carrier will fly five times a week between the two capitals.

The Buenos Aires route increases the airline’s destinations in the Americas to six.

Ethiopian flies to Washington, New York, and Los Angeles in the United States, Toronto in Canada, and São Paulo, Brazil.

Ethiopian flight to Buenos Aires will provide efficient connections to our network in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, including Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, Mumbai, Delhi, Dubai, Beirut, Nairobi, and Cairo, said Mr Tewolde Gebremariam, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

He said the airline’s expansion in terms of destinations and fleet in recent years would be instrumental in supporting Ethiopia’s rapid economic growth which is largely supported by industrialisation and tourism.

As the national carrier, we are fast expanding our global footprint, currently covering over 100 international destinations across five continents, to support the country’s growth by facilitating its access to investors and tourists,said Mr Tewolde.

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's most profitable, has set up hubs in the continent with the latest agreement signed in January to acquire a 45 per cent stake in Zambia Airways that is set to be re-launched after more than two decades.

Ethiopian also operates Togo's Asky Airlines where it holds a 40 per cent stake, and Malawian Airlines, formerly Air Malawi, where it has a 49 per cent shareholding.

Ethiopian Airlines is seeking to set up hubs in southern Africa, Central Africa and the Horn that connect neighbouring countries leading to faster trade, investment and tourism within the continent.

We are working with Malawi and Zambia as southern Africa hubs. Another hub would be in central Africa, covering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville and Chad. We are also in talks with neighbouring Djibouti, said Tewelde Gebremariam, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

We have a successful hub in Togo, Asky Airline in which we hold a 40 per cent share, Mr Tewelde said.

Before we established Asky, the only way to travel to travel from Cote d’Ivoire to Benin was first to go to Paris and then from Paris to Benin, he added.

He made the remark in Addis Ababa on Wednesday at the launch of an Ethiopian Airlines app that enables customers to make transactions including downloading their boarding pass.

Explaining the significance of having multiple hubs in Africa, Mr Tewelde said: We are not entering a joint venture with these African countries just for the sake of making money. Addis Ababa is a very successful hub.

Out of the around 11 million passengers we transport every year, 70 per cent are not entering Addis. They are transit passengers to other African countries and the rest of the world.

We are connecting Europe with Africa, the Middle East with Africa and Asia with Africa. We want to expand this and be close to the customers.

With a very large landmass and around one billion population, Africa has a high growth opportunity. By expanding the hubs, we will be contributing significantly to intra-Africa connectivity, he said.

Although Africa is reasonably connected with the rest of the world, the continent is not well connected to itself. Internal transport within Africa has been a major challenge especially because there are no open skies.

Due to financial and managerial complications Ethiopian Airlines recently ceased negotiations with Nigerian government to take over the previously private owned Arik Airlines of Nigeria.

A few months ago Mr Tewelde announced that Ethiopian Airlines was working on getting registered as a local Airline in Mozambique.

In 2017, Ethiopian Airlines added 12 new destinations. We will be launching flights to 10 new destinations between now and June 2018, Mr Tewelde said.

Ethiopian Airlines has acquired a 45 per cent stake in Zambia Airways that is set to be re-launched after more than two decades.

Africa's most profitable airline said Tuesday it has finalised a shareholders agreement with Zambia in line with its vision of setting up multiple hubs in southern and central Africa and the Horn.

Under the pact, the Zambian government will be the majority shareholder with a 55 per cent stake.

The re-launching of Zambia Airways will enable the travelling public in Zambia and the southern African region to enjoy greater connectivity options.

Thereby facilitating the flow of investment, trade and tourism, and contributing to the socio-economic growth of the country and the region, said Mr Tewolde Gebremariam, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group.

In the statement, Mr Tewolde said Zambia Airways will serve national and regional destinations before embarking on international flights.

In December, Zambia's Cabinet approved the revival of the national airline at an estimated cost of $30 million.

The airline was liquidated in 1994 after running broke largely due to patronage and abuse by the political establishment.

Ethiopia Airlines runs Togo's Asky Airlines where it holds a 40 per cent stake and Malawian Airlines, formerly Air Malawi, where it has a 49 per cent shareholding.

Ethiopian Airlines almost doubled its profit for 2016, buoyed by an 18 per cent jump in passenger numbers.

The Ethiopian carrier summed up a great year for the continent’s largest and only profitable airline, with revenues of $261.9 million in 2016, from $150.9 million the previous year.

This despite the challenging operating environment caused by slower global economic growth and weaker performance of Africa’s major economies.

Its revenues increased by 8.6 per cent to $2.3 billion, a development attributed to an increase in flight frequency and opening up of new routes.

But the airline group chief executive officer Tewolde Gebremariam says that it was exposed to high currency fluctuations, leaving more than $220 million of its funds stuck in several African countries that had forex challenges.

Ethiopian booked a currency loss of $18.1 million as a result of continuous currency devaluation in many African countries and the associated problems of repatriation.

Mr Tewolde said the airline had difficulties repatriating funds in some oil-producing African countries.

Repatriating funds held up in Nigeria, Egypt, Angola and Sudan as a result of the oil price declines was a problem.

We have more than $220 million stuck in these countries. This has hit our liquidity, Mr Gebremariam said.

The airline was forced to resort to a natural hedge; making payments in the currency of sales and maintaining a higher cash reserve in the stable currencies such as US dollar, the euro and the British pound.

Due to the fluctuation of most currencies against the US dollar, as well as critical shortages of forex in some of the major markers in Africa.

We are closely working with International Air Transport Association (IATA) for possible ways of hedging of selected currency risks in major financial markets with selected banks, Mr Gebremariam said.

Data from the IATA shows that last year, 20 African governments owed African and foreign airlines $1.4 billion in stuck funds.

Nigeria, which devalued its currency twice, held the highest amount, $339 million, followed by Egypt with $310 million, then Angola with $190 million, Sudan $250 million and Algeria $125 million.

In 2016, Ethiopian Airlines saw its operating expenses increase by 6 per cent, which was lower than the rate of revenue growth.

It spent $631.9 million on fuel equivalent to 32 per cent of its total costs during the period down from $739.4 million the previous year.

Its overflying and navigation, foreign overhaul and landing charges also increased by $54.7 million to $147.4 million because of the increased operations, and exchange rate impact.

The airline saved $81.73 million through the implementation of various structural and strategic cost-saving initiatives.

Facing stiff competition from Gulf carriers, Ethiopia Airlines transported 270,000 tonnes of cargo and 7.6 million passengers in 2016, 75 per cent of whom were in transit.

Its finance costs jumped to $1.97 billion, $1.8 billion being loans from foreign lending institutions, secured on aircraft, bearing interest at rates of up to 4.84 per cent annually, and repayable in quarterly instalments.

It also owes $121.3 million in secured and unsecured loans from local and foreign lenders and development agencies, bearing interest at rates of up to 6.9 per cent annually.

The airline spent $61.6 million on landing and parking, up from $48.23 million, as a result of the new routes.



Tourism Observer

BRAZIL: Brazil’s Bumper Soybean Crop Amazing

The farm markets will continue to actively eye the corn and soybean production progress in Brazil and Argentina.

Because South America’s growing season varies widely, everything from crop progress, weather updates, harvest progress and yield reports, and transportation issues are all in play during the month of February.

This week, the Brazil soybean crop was being called amazing by some, while Argentina’s soybean losses from flooding were still being assessed.

Both the crops still in the ground and the yields from the harvest activity in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil’s largest soybean-producing region, were coming up roses.

As of Sunday, Brazil farmers had harvested 2.2% of the crop, ahead of the 1.5% pace from a year ago, and ahead of the 1.2% five-year average, according to AgRural consultancy.

Individual states such as Mato Grosso had 11.5% of this year’s soybean crop harvested, up almost 8% from its pace last year. Mato Grosso do Sul farmers were 1% complete; Goiás and Minas Gerais both less than 1.0%.

So far, the farmers in Mato Grosso have reported soybean harvest yields between 53.33 and 57.99 bushels per acre. In the southern state of Parana, farmers report yields ranging from 56.2 and 61.56 bushels per acre.

For the rest of the month of January, wet weather is expected to delay harvest activity for the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais, according to Climatempo, a Brazilian weather company.

Meanwhile, favorable soybean harvest weather is expected in Brazil's southern states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.

Though rain events could slow harvest in parts of the country, Brazil’s soybean output for 2017 is expected to be record-large.

The latest soybean production estimates released by Brazil’s National Supply Company (Conab) estimates an increase of 8.7% compared to last year.

With an estimated area of 84.0 million acres, Brazil’s farmers are expected to grow 103.5 million tons of soybeans, greater than Conab’s December estimates of 102.3 million tons.

Brazil’s total 2017 corn production (first and second crops) is pegged at 84.480 million tons, according to Conab. However, AgRural, a private Brazilian consultancy firm estimates total corn production at 88.6 million tons.

Brazil’s farmers planted and estimated 39.34 million acres of corn in 2017, the majority of this total associated with the second crop (safrihna) crop.

So, Brazilian farmers have a big crop coming on. The question is will they put it on the market all at once? Not exactly.

While farmers were active sellers in December, January’s exchange rate fell out of bed. The U.S. dollar weakened to Brazil’s real, and the farmer-selling faded. In late January, one U.S. dollar equaled around R$ 3.19.

Farmers get paid in dollars. Last year, prices reached R$ 100 per bag of 60 kgs. This year, prices for a bag of soybeans is around R$ 60 to R$ 65 per bag.

Just as Brazil and Argentina are expected to produce more soybeans in 2017, (a combined 102 to 106 million metric tons), smaller countries expect to raise South America’s total even higher. At the same time, some other few countries will have a higher output.

Paraguay is seen producing 9.30 million metric tons of the oilseed (13% more than the previous crop). In Uruguay, after lower output from last year’s lack of soybean seeds, the country would harvest 3.5 million metric tons of soy, according to the newest estimate of the Association of Oil and Grain Exporters of Paraguay.

The British group AHDB says that both countries represent together 4% of global soybean supply and have been out of the scope for a lot of analysts. On the other hand, it is still early to tell if Argentina’s losses would be totally compensated by these two countries. Estimates of losses range from 2 to 8 million metric tons. Argentinian farmers have yet 10 days to finish planting or rework.

The soybean market is performing well, despite solid world supply numbers.

Jason Ward, Northstar Commodity Investment Co. says the USDA’s January WASDE estimates for South America remain big but not surprising to the market.

“We digested a big increase in Brazil production and still world soy stocks declined. Argentina likely has some room to move down on production, especially if wet weather continues,” Ward says.

Compared with the USDA’s previous estimates, the USDA left production estimates unchanged in January, for both Argentina or Brazil.

USDA left Brazil’s 2017 corn output at 86.50 million metric tons, and that country’s soybean production at 104 mmt, up 2 mmt.

Argentina’s estimates, in production, were left unchanged for its corn and soybean output.

Meanwhile, in its January WASDE Report world corn ending stocks were dropped by 1.3 mmt or 51.16 million bushels. World soybean ending stocks declined by 600,000 mmt or 22 million bushels. World wheat ending stocks increased by 1.2 mmt or 44 million bushels.


Tourism Observer
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BELARUS:UNWTO Supports Scraping Visa Requirements

UNWTO has expressed its full support to the decision of the Government of Belarus to launch the 5-day visa-free policy that will be applicable to travelers from 80 countries.

The measure aims at advancing seamless travel and attracting visitors, particularly those on business trips.

The Government of Belarus has recently decided to advance visa facilitation as a means to stimulate tourism development. The decision introduces visa-free entry at the Minsk National Airport and visa-free stay in Belarus for up to five days for the citizens of 80 states.

Among those, there are 39 countries of Europe, including the entire European Union, Brazil, Indonesia, the USA and Japan.

“Visa facilitation is among the most effective strategies to induce tourism development in a region or in a country, so we are sure that the tourism sector will experience a positive shift in Belarus,” said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai.

The promotion of seamless travel is one of UNWTO’s priorities, considering the proven capacity of visa facilitation to stimulate economic growth and job creation through tourism.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed a decree scrapping visa requirements for residents of 80 foreign countries for a period of no more than five days, the press service of the Belarusian president reports.

“The document establishes visa-free procedures of entry into Belarus for a period no longer than five days on entry via a check point across the State Border, the Minsk National Airport, for citizens of 80 countries,” it said, specifying that the decree covers 39 European countries, including all EU countries, as well as Brazil, Indonesia, the United States and Japan.

First of all these are migrant-friendly countries, strategic partners of Belarus, states that have unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for Belarusian nationals,” the press service explained. The decree also applies to “non-citizens of Latvia and stateless persons of Estonia.

“The document is aimed at giving a boost to travels of business people, tourists, individuals having domestic passports and will not apply to foreigners making official trips: diplomatic, business, special and other passports equivalent to them will not be taken into consideration,” the press service commented.

As for the citizens of Vietnam, Haiti, Gambia, Honduras, India, China, Lebanon, Namibia and Samoa, a compulsory additional demand for them is to have in their passports a valid multi-entry visa of a EU or a Schengen zone state with a mark confirming the entry to their territory, as well as plane tickets confirming the departure from the Minsk National Airport within five days from the entry date.

These visa-free travels don’t apply to people arriving in Belarus by plane from Russia, as well as planning to fly to Russian airports (these flights are domestic and have no border controls). The decree comes into effect one month after it is published officially.

COLOMBIA: Tourism in Leticia

Leticia is a small town of approximately 37,000 inhabitants situated on the north bank of the Amazon River. It is the capital of the state of Amazonas, Colombia’s southernmost town as well as its only major port on the river. It has an elevation of 96 meters above the sea-level and an average temperature of 27 centigrade.

Leticia’s public facilities include a hospital with 3 levels, an airport, and good telephone communication nationally and internationally with internet access capabilities. Water and energy services are acceptable.

Leticia is the southernmost city in the Republic of Colombia, capital of the department of Amazonas, Colombia's southernmost town and one of the major ports on the Amazon river. It has an elevation of 96 meters above sea level and an average temperature of 27 °C (80.6 °F).

Leticia has long been Colombia's shipping point for tropical fish for the aquarium trade. Leticia has approximately 33,000 inhabitants on the left bank of the Amazon river, and is located at the point where Colombia, Brazil and Peru come together in an area called Tres Fronteras.

A long-standing border dispute involving Leticia, between Colombia and Peru, was decided in 1934 by the League of Nations after these two nations were engulfed in an armed conflict known as the Colombia-Peru War.

Though the League of Nations' intervention had officially ended the war, the Colombian government remained wary of the Peruvians, and decided to populate Leticia with people from Bogotá in order to ensure the town's loyalty to Colombia. Most of the people who came from Bogotá from the 1940s to 1965 still live in Leticia as of 2012.

During that time Leticia has expanded greatly, with a new main street being built. However, the city's industries have changed little since then, with agriculture and tourism still the prime sources of income.

Movement between all three countries' border towns is unrestricted; but of course, make sure you're stamped into the correct country if leaving the border area. Try to minimize the amount of times you go through immigration: i.e. if entering the region from one country and leaving from another, just get one exit and one entry stamp - even if you visit all three towns in this area. Anything more seems to annoy the immigration officers.

There is a 'catch 22' if you go across the Amazon but do not pass through Peruvian immigration, as happens if yoou visit the Marasha nature reserve. If you get a Colombian exit stamp at Leticia airport, then when you return and ask for an entrance stamp the immigratin officials may object. In this case it seems to be the accepted practice not to formally leave the country when crossing briefly into Peru.

The Colombian immigration office is at the airport, so if you're flying in and moving on to a different country you may as well get an exit stamp when you land. Don't wait several days between getting your exit stamp and the next entry stamp; however leaving it one day doesn't cause any problems.

The Brazilian immigration office is located some way down Tabatinga's main avenue, Avenida da Amizade. The Peruvian immigration office in Santa Rosa is fairly central and easy to find, just ask someone.

Tourism in Leticia has boomed and the town is today a recognized tourist site. International students travel to Leticia to learn Spanish. Meanwhile, students and visitors can enjoy the attractions nearby the city.

Leticia features a tropical rainforest climate with minimal difference in average high and low temperatures throughout the course of the year. Leticia does have noticeably wetter and drier months, with its wettest month (May) seeing a little more than twice as much precipitation as its driest month (July). The average monthly rainfall in the city is above 100 mm.

Leticia features a tropical rainforest climate with minimal difference in average high and low temperatures throughout the course of the year. Leticia does have noticeably wetter and drier months, with its wettest month (May) seeing a little more than twice as much precipitation as its driest month (July). The average monthly rainfall in the city is above 100 mm.

The majority of Leticia's population have migrated from elsewhere. There is no obviously dominant segment, but migrants from Bogotá, Medellín, and Tolima are the majority. Few people from Cali live in Leticia. A significant proportion of Leticia's population comprises native Amerindians (as opposed to mestizos or caboclos). The prevailing trend is for people to move from the village of their birth in far-lying rural communities into the city to make a "better" living.

Although the inhabitants commonly eat the same things each week, a wide variety of food is available in Leticia. Dishes specific to each of Colombia's regions are made here. For example, people make Sancocho, a hearty soup, with regional variations in different parts of Colombia. But even within regions, each family has its own recipe.

Leticia's cuisine includes Brazilian and Peruvian influences. Common staples in Leticia include river fish, domestic (and occasionally wild) meat, rice, locally-grown vegetables and potatoes. Meals are usually cooked over a wood-fired stovetop in a pan. A typical Sunday meal might comprise grilled meats, cooked in makeshift charcoal grillers, served with rice and plantains.

Attractions

Parque Nacional Natural Amacayacu (River), Isla de los Micos (River), Puerto Nariño (River), Lago Tarapoto (River), Lago Yahuarcacas (km.2), Parque temático Mundo Amazónico (Km. 7),Museum Banco de la República (Downtown), Parque Orellana and Santander (Downtown).

The entry Airport is Vásquez Cobo International Airport.

Visit

Puerto Nariño & Tarapoto Lakes

Monkey Island

Micos Monkey Island A nature reserve that allows you to feed the monkeys
Walk through Leticia Parque Santander (birds) and Parque Orellana are the main atractions for locals. At certain times you might find band competitions, sports, dance, etc.

Bicycle trip to Tabatinga (Brazil)

Nighttime Safari

Bird Watching At sunset, thousands of small parrots fly to Parque Santader to spend the night in the park's trees. If you ask nicely at the church next to the park, they will let you see this spectacle from the church's bell tower. A small donation is required (COP 2,500). The tower also offers a nice view over the city and the Amazon river.

Kayaking in the Yahuarcaca lakes

Macuna Jungle Hut Communal large living hut of one of the indigenous tribes

Macuna Jungle Hut

Flor Lagoon Swimming lagoon with Victoria Lillys, parrots and small bar

Flor Lagoon

Parque Ecológico Mundo Amazónico This is an Etno-Botanic center to see more than 300 species of plans that only grow in the Amazon, to learn about culture, ecological practices and recycling. It is located at Km 7,7 on Leticia -Tarapaca's road. - Extremely educational and interactive. You will learn about tribes and how they live in this eco friendly park. If you come to the amazon looking for eco tourism and do not visit this park you missed the mark. Learn tips for recycling that you can put in to practice back home an also raise awareness.

Acuarios Etuena The first aquarium to display a wide range of native species from the rainforest.
Natural Reserve Victoria Regia, Amazonas River, km 2 on the way to Puerto Nariño. A natural reserve where you can see a lot of Queen Victoria waterlilies

Tabatinga, the Brazilian town and harbour that adjoins Leticia. The two cities cooperate closely, and altogether their urban area and adjacent suburbs along the Amazon river have a population of more than 100,000 people.

Because of its privileged position as a triple frontier and being very close to a tributary river Yavarí, Leticia can serve as the perfect base for eco-tourism activities as well as for the studies of wildlife and flora in the Amazon region.

It can also be the perfect starting point for visiting indigenous tribes such as the Tikunas, Yaguas, Huitotos and Boras in the Amazonas . On the Yavarí river you can find the Yaguas and Mayorunas.

Close to Leticia you can also find Amacayacu National Park which is on Colombian territory. On the Yavarí River there is also a natural Reserve. The ribera peruana is also a zone with virgin tropical forest. Amongst others in the ribera peruana, the Cayaru river can be found.

Leticia also greets 2 or 3 tourist cruises in the season between March and April such as the MV World Explorer, MV Bremen, MV Le Levant. Celebrity guests also include the famous Mr. Bill Gates.

Cautious travellers MIGHT want to have a yellow fever certificate ready, showing vaccination at least 10 days earlier. While the vaccination IS (technically) required, the check is very infrequently performed.

By Air

You can only get into this spectacular, tropical and adventurous town from Colombia by plane or boat. The only place connected to Leticia by a commercial airline is Bogota, there are daily flights with companies LAN and Avianca and flights every second day with VivaColombia. The flight lasts two hours. LC Perú connect Leticia with Iquitos, Peru 3 times a week.

Tabatinga has a daily flight to Manaus with Azul Lineas Aereas.

On arrival to Leticia, non-Colombian citizens are directed to a different entry door to the airport, and the police will ask them for name, nationality and signature. In addition, tourist have to pay an entrance fee (Impuesto al turismo). The fee paper is colorful and it may seem that the representative is trying to sell you something if you don't understand Spanish. None of the officials may be able to speak English. Entrance fee was COP24000 in September 2015 and it's valid for one year.

By boat

From Santa Rosa, across the river in Peru, you can take a fast (10hr, US$ 75 or 200 PEN) or slow (2-3 days, ~US$20-25, bring a hammock, plate and spoon - food is provided) boat to Iquitos .

Boats downstream from Manaus, arrive in Tabatinga. There are two types of boat, one slow, one fast. The time taken varies slightly depending on the season and water level in the river, but expect 5-7days for the slow boat and 1.5-2days for the fast boat. The price of the fast boat is comparable to flying.

Don't expect to see much wildlife when travelling by boat, the Amazon is really, really wide. Pink river dolphins sometimes swim alongside the boats, however.

If coming from Manaus, it is quite simple to catch the boat to Tabatinga. The slow boat departs twice a week, inquire at the pier. Bargain and don't accept the first price offered.

For the fast boat, go to the 'Terminal Ajato' at the wharf in Manaus and book directly with them. You can find this by going to the market near the wharf, then walk east until the road curves around. The booking office is on a modern floating pontoon. There will be hawkers outside, but just go on the pontoon and book direct with the Terminal Ajato office there.

Make sure to bring your passport. For information on departure times you can view their website here: As of May 2015 the cost of the fast boat is 550 reals - or more than the cost of a flight booked a week in advance and just slightly cheaper than a last-minute flight. The journey takes about 36 hours and includes food. From Tabatinga's pier it is a short taxi ride or long walk to Leticia.

Touring Leticia

Mototaxis abound. It should be about 1000 COP from the center to the border with Brazil, more if you're going to the port. There are also motocarros, covered tricycle-type vehicles in which you're more protected from the elements. You can rent a moto or a bicycle in various points around town.

Currency

Colombian, Brazilian and Peruvian money are all freely traded in all three towns. If getting the best rate matters, check out the rates at the money changers. In May 2016, for example, you could get a very good rate when exchanging Colombian pesos to Brazilian reals - much better than the xe.com official rate.

There are frequently problems with the ATMs in Tabatinga, so withdrawing pesos and converting them to Reals may be your only option. There is no ATM in Santa Rosa, so if you want soles you will need to convert another currency.

Meals

Leticia is a melting pot for food, even though they commonly eat the same things each week. The delicacies of each region Colombia are made here. For example, many people make sancocho, a hearty soup, in different regions of Colombia. Each family will have its own variation. Common staples are meats baked together with potatoes, and sometimes vegetables, usually cooked over a stovetop in a pan. A usual Sunday meal might consist of grilled meats, cooked in makeshift charcoal grillers, served with rice and plantains.

Tierras Amazónicas, Carrera 8, 7-50. Nice setting, good food. Lots of fish and seafood options, including cazuela (a kind of soup/stew). moderate.
Tierras Antioqueñas, (Dowtown). This is a cheap place to eat with a very good food. Prices are around 7000 to 10000 COP (2013).

Drinks

Calle 11 & Carrera 6. Leticia's own "Nightclub Alley", the corners of Calle 11 & Carrera 6 are home to a number of bars and nightclubs busy every day of the week. Far enough away from the downtown core that tourists are unaware of its existence, people wanting to party with the locals should not hesitate to come and bar-hop here as this is, unquestionably, where Leticianos come to drink, dance, and party. Also a great place to get good, cheap, street-food.
Mossh. In parque Santander, plays merengues, bachatas, brasilian pop, electronica, etc. Beer 4,000-6,000 COP (NOTE- this is 2 to 3 times more than what you'll pay pretty much anywhere else in the city). Whisky 15,000.
Colors. Near the library and close to Mossh. The setup is good for groups.
La Tribu. Great friendly place owned by an uruguayan. Beers are 2,700 COP and there's pizzas too. Close to Parque Orellana (Anaconda Hotel)
Blu. Another great club for merengue, bachata, mexican pop, rock. Beer 3,000 COP. Perfect to bounce from La Tribu once you meet someone. May charge cover on certain nights.

Internet

The internet in Leticia comes from satellites and is painfully slow. Many hostels do not have working internet at all. 3G - even 2G - mobile phone service is almost non-existent as of May 2016. There is an internet café in an orange-coloured Papeleria on Avenida Internacional that will also allow you to connect your own device to their wifi for 2,000 COP/hour, the speed here seems to be the best in town (Skype calling just about possible).

Get out

By Air

There are two daily flights to Bogota, one on LAN, one on Avianca. You can connect to many other destinations in Colombia for only slightly more than the cost of a Leticia-Bogota flight. Iquitos is also served several times a week by air, if you don't want to catch a boat. If you want to fly to Manaus, you need to cross the border and use Tabatinga's airport. Promo fares can be had for less than R$500, or cheaper than the fast boat. One flight daily, leaving 7pm on Azul.

By boat

To Puerto Narino

Fast boats leave three times daily from Leticia's port - 8am, 10am and 2pm. 29,000 COP, 1.5-2hours. Other stops along the way in some of the smaller villages, e.g. La Libertad, Santa Sofia.

To Benjamin Constant There is a fast boat to Benjamin Constant that leaves around every half hour, or whenever it's full, from the port in Tabatinga - it costs 20,000 COP.

To Iquitos

Slow and fast boats leave from Santa Rosa to Iquitos 6days a week (they take different days off, so there are actually boats leaving every day). The fast boat (el rapido) leaves around 3 in the morning and the slow boat (la lancha) at 6 or 8 in the evening. Slow boat price is S/.80, although you can try to bargain this down slightly. Don't forget to stamp out of Brazil or Colombia before asking for your Peruvian entry stamp.

To Manaus

Go to the ports in Tabatinga for travel towards Manaus and Belém. Slow boats from Tabatinga to Manaus leave only Wednesday and Saturday, and from a different port south of the busier main port. It takes between 3-4days, depending on the season and water level - if the water is higher, the boat can take a few extra shortcuts. There are cabins, some even with a/c, but most people sleep in hammocks (bring your own). The price is negotiable, the ticket seller will probably ask for the gringo price of R$200 to start, but DO NOT agree to pay this.

Brazilians will pay R$150 for the trip from Tabatinga-Manaus, you should aim to pay the same - it IS possible for foreigners to get this price. It is easier to get a better price if you buy the day before, but even a couple of hours before the boat leaves it can be had for R$180 or less. DO NOT pay more than R$180 under any circumstances, be firm and hold your ground. The ticket office is the building on the left hand side after you walk through the arch, before you come to the boat (prices are from May 2016).

NOTE: If stamped into Colombia, make sure to get your Colombian exit stamp at the DAS office in the airport, or if you are coming from Peru make sure you get your Peruvian exit stamp at the office in Santa Rosa, the Brazilian policia federal will not stamp you into Brazil until you have stamped out of your previous country. You will not be allowed to even buy a boat ticket without a Brazilian entry stamp. Note that if you are only passing through Leticia (coming from Peru) or staying for just a few days, it is not necessary to stamp into Colombia at all.

Observations to make on a slow boat from Tabatinga to Manaus:

Alcohol is forbidden on board. If you are bringing it, keep it in unmarked containers, or premix it and don't be obvious when consuming it.
Your luggage will probably be sniffed by dogs before boarding the boat, and after a few hours the Brazilian policia federal may stop the boat and perform a very thorough check on your luggage - completely emptying your backpack. There may be several other less thorough checks, maybe just of your passport, but possibly also your luggage. Hide any contraband (including alcohol) accordingly.
There is free coffee and hot water on board (mornings and evenings), and also free drinking water (24/7). Unlike the boats in Peru, you don't need to bring your own bowl and cutlery for the meals (included in your fare), although if you do bring them you can get your food "to go" and eat it when you want and outside of the dining room.
The shop sells snacks, soft drinks etc. and also some cooked food, but absolutely no alcohol.
There are televisions on board, you should be able to watch any football games that take place during your trip, and also the finest Brazilian soap operas! The signal is analogue and comes from an aerial that needs to be constantly adjusted.
A good place for your hammock is on the upper deck closer to the end without the toilets, and further away from the engines but not too close to the TV.
There are lots of plugs for recharging your electronics onboard, most are dual European/US type, some are only the round European type.
The food is okay except breakfast, unless you are a vegetarian. Meals are served very early, especially breakfast, be careful not to miss them. Some of the stops the boat makes you may be able to quickly disembark and get some food from a stall at the dock. Unlike in Peru, there are not many food sellers who will come onto the boat, though there may be a couple at some of the stops.
If you land in Leticia on the LAN flight from Bogota on a Saturday or Wednesday and want to head straight to Manaus rather than waiting around for a few days, you need to be very quick and to get a bit lucky. Get your Colombian exit stamp in the airport, then take a taxi straight to the policia federal office in Tabatinga for your Brazilian entry stamp.

You will almost certainly be too late to catch the boat before it leaves Tabatinga (scheduled 12pm, it may be slightly late), instead go to the other port where the rapidos leave to Benjamin Constant. The slow boat takes 1 hour to reach here and docks for an hour at the port, so if you are lucky you can catch up to it.

The slow boat's next stop is not until Sao Paolo de Olivenca, there are also rapidos that go here, although they are more infrequent and expensive.
There are also stops in Amaturá, San Antonia do Ica, Tonantins, Jutai, Fonte Boa and Alvaraes.
Overall, the boats are much more spacious, cleaner and comfortable than Peruvian boats, but hardly luxurious. The showers use clean water rather than river water. Less cargo is transported, although the boat still stops for an hour or more at some of the towns along the way. You may also find them less "fun", since people tend to go to bed very early (probably due to the lack of alcohol).

BRAZIL: Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Acquires Windsor Atlantica Hotel

Blackstone has announced funds managed by its real estate business have agreed to acquire the Windsor Atlantica Hotel on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As part of the transaction, Blackstone has signed a management agreement with Hilton for this asset and following a period of transition plans to convert the hotel to the Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana.

The irreplaceable 39-floor, 545-key beachfront hotel was comprehensively renovated in 2011 by its current owner and operator, Windsor Hotels, and is a main destination for both business and leisure travellers on one of the most famous beaches in the world.

“We are excited to acquire this one-of-a-kind premier hotel in Brazil and have been deeply impressed by Windsor’s stewardship of the asset,” said Marcelo Fedak, head of Brazil for Blackstone.

“In line with our on-going engagement with the Brazilian market and in close partnership with Hilton, we are pleased to expand our presence in the hospitality sector where we see continuing opportunity.”

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“Hilton is focused on continued growth in Latin America and this exciting project with Blackstone allows us to expand our flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in one of the most sought-after beach destinations in the region,” said Fabian Rodriguez Suarez, managing director development, Brazil, Hilton.

“Brazil is a key market for Hilton’s expansion efforts, and the signing of Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana reinforces our strategy to deliver value for our customers, hotel owners, and shareholders.”

INDONESIA: Kenya Among Indonesia’s Visa-free Partners In Travel Targeting 20 Million Tourists

Kenyans are free to travel to Indonesia without tourist visas, according to the latest directive issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Indonesian government has offered visa-free travel for a group of countries including Kenya, hoping to pull in more numbers and boost its faltering tourism sector.

So far, tourists from 174 countries no longer need visas to enter the Asian nation. The latest group of countries offered the facility include Australia, Brazil, Ukraine, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Palestine, Honduras, and Pakistan.

Others are Mongolia, Sierra Leone, Uruguay, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Albania, Mozambique, Macedonia, El Salvador, Zambia, Moldova, Madagascar, Georgia, Namibia, Kiribati, Armenia, Bolivia, Bhutan, Guatemala, Mauritania, and Paraguay.

“Offering visa-free travel is one of the easiest ways to boost tourist numbers,” Indonesian Tourism minister Arief Yahya was quoted as saying by the country’s local media.

Indonesia is known for its volcanic islands and scenic beaches. The country hopes to chalk up 20 million foreign tourists in 2019, doubling the 2015 record.

Visa-free travel will only be available through five international airports in Jakarta, Medan, Batam, Bali and Surabaya, and would come with tighter monitoring to minimise misuse of the facility, an Indonesian government official has said, adding foreign tourists found smuggling illegal goods, such as drugs, would face serious penalties.

The country’s President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has repeatedly said the visa-free travel is offered to boost the country’s tourism industry.

Kenya and Indonesia enjoy cordial relations and have had diplomatic ties since 1982. Diplomatic ties between the two countries began in July 1979, and in April 1982 Indonesia opened an Embassy in Nairobi.

The Kenyan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is accredited to Indonesia and In April, 2015 the Government of Kenya appointed Mr Bilal Asif as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kenya to Indonesia.

Foreign Affairs secretary Amina Mohamed said recently Kenya is seeking to forge a strong partnership with the two countries.

“Kenya considers Indonesia an important partner and has identified and expressed interest in opening a mission in your country. In the meantime, Mr Bilal Asif was appointed as the Honorary Consul of Kenya early last year and we hope that the Government of Indonesia is granting him the necessary support to carry out his mandate,” said Ms Mohamed.

She spoke in Nairobi during the farewell lunch in honour of Mr Sunu Soemarno, who was the outgoing Indonesian ambassador in early 2016. She said: “Kenya, like Indonesia, is outward looking to have a diversified and growing economy that creates a lot of opportunities. We look forward to the review of the JCC that was signed on 3rd December, 2008. I believe this will bring on board new areas for co-operation between Kenya and your great country.”

The countries have signed bilateral agreements for co-operation in various fields, notable among them the agreement on economic, scientific, technical and cultural co-operation signed in Nairobi on September 2, 1992, an MOU on establishment of Joint Commission signed on June 19, 2008.

The two nations also signed Agreed Minutes for Joint Commission for Co-operation signed on 3rd December, 2008 besides Bilateral Air Services Agreement signed in 2007 and an MoU on Fisheries Co-operation signed in 2009.

According to the Export Promotion Council, the bi-lateral trade between Kenya and Indonesia is heavily in favour of Indonesia, with the trade balance rising from $272.6 million in 2007 to $327.3 million in 2009 and $491.4 million in 2011.


Kenya’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $24.9 million and accounted for only 0.4 per cent of Kenya’s total exports in 2011.

The exports to Indonesia fluctuated over the period between 2007 and 2011 and the export products included soda ash, black tea, tobacco and products, sheep skin leather and dried leguminous vegetables. Imports from Indonesia amounted to $516.3 million in 2011 and accounted for 3.4 per cent of Kenya’s total imports.

The main import products include crude palm oil, industrial chemicals, refrigerator, yarns, natural rubber and paper and paperboard.

ETHIOIPIA: Ethiopia Airlines To Fly To Chengdu

Effective 03rd of June will Ethiopian Airlines launch their fifth destination in China, when nonstop flights between Addis Ababa and Chengdu will commence.

Using a two class Boeing B787 will the initial three flights per week leave the Ethiopian capital every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, returning to Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Departure time is set from ADD at ten minutes past midnight, giving connecting passengers from across Africa ample time to connect to the Chengdu service. Landing of the return flights is scheduled for 06.20 hrs (a.m.), again providing instant and short wait onward connections to the rest of the continent.

Chengdu is China's seventh largest city and a key industrial, logistics, trade, IT and transport hub.

Notably does Ethiopian in conjunction with Star Alliance partner Air China then offer a range of onward destinations beyond Chengdu for passengers destined for such cities as Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wuhan, Changsha, and Urumqi.

Said the airline's CEO Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam when making the announcement earlier today: 'We are glad to launch services to Chengdu, our fifth gateway to The Republic of China. Since our first flight 43 years ago, China has been a key market and it is now the largest per country market in our system. Using the geocentric location advantage of our hub in Addis Ababa we are connecting China, the world's second largest economy and Africa’s biggest trade and investment partner, with 52 cities in the continent of Africa.

With the addition of Chengdu, we shall offer the best and fastest connectivity options with a total of 34 weekly flights to China, operated with the latest and most comfortable B787 and B777 aircraft. Our Chinese customers will also enjoy seamless connection on Ethiopian's vast intra African network and further to São Paulo in Brazil.

Ethiopian is investing to make Addis Ababa a Chinese friendly hub airport for the continent. We now have Mandarin translators and signage available at the airport transit area and in the Cloud Nine Business Class Lounge. Chinese New Year is also marked every year at Addis Ababa Airport'.

Ethiopian was the first African airline and the fourth in the world to fly to China as early as 1973. In addition to the three weekly flights to Chengdu to be launched in June, Ethiopian currently also operates daily nonstop flights to Beijing, 10 weekly nonstop services to Guangzhou and 6 weekly nonstop flights to Hong Kong.

In a related development is the decision now nearing which manufacturer will provide the next generation of smaller single aisle jets to Ethiopian Airlines. Speculation is mounting that the Bombardier's CS Series - Ethiopian is already successfully flying 15 Bombardier Q400NG's - may become the aircraft of choice.

Ethiopian's aviation academy already operates a simulator for the Bombardier Q400 and also offers maintenance services for this aircraft type, making a valid case to further strengthen the relationship between the airline group and Canadian manufacturer Bombardier.

Etihad Signs Code-share Agreement With Lufthansa

Etihad Airways and Lufthansa German Airlines have signed a long-awaited codeshare agreement on flights, set to start in January 2017.

The German carrier twice reneged on an agreement in 2011, according to comments made by Etihad CEO and President James Hogan in 2014.

The deal is subject to government approval.

Etihad is set to codeshare with Lufthansa on twice daily non-stop flights between its home base of Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt, and its twice daily services between Abu Dhabi and Munich.

The Abu Dhabi carrier will, in turn, put its “EY” code on Lufthansa’s long-haul services between its home base of Frankfurt, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as well as Bogota, Colombia.

Both companies also agreed to a wet-lease, in other words, a full lease of aircraft, crew, and maintenance, whereby Lufthansa will rent out 38 aircraft from airberlin, a company Etihad Aviation Group indirectly holds a 29 per cent stake in.

Of the aircraft being leased, 33 will go to the Eurowings Group, Lufthansa’s point-to-point carrier, whilst an additional five aircraft are to be flown for Austrian Airlines, its network carrier.

Despite hostilities in the past, the statements from both companies suggest the start of a broader partnership, with Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Group, saying, “we will consider extending our cooperation in other areas”.

BOLIVIA: LaMia Airlines CEO Arrested Over Plane Crash

The head of the charter airline whose plane crashed in the Andes last week has been detained by Bolivian prosecutors for questioning as authorities look into whether the tragedy that killed 71 people stemmed from negligence.

Gustavo Vargas, a retired Bolivian air force general, was picked up in Santa Cruz along with a mechanic and secretary who worked for him at LaMia airline. All are being questioned about their roles in letting a British-built short-range jet attempt a more than four-hour flight from Santa Cruz to Medellin, Colombia, for which it barely had enough fuel in violation of aviation norms.

Prosecutors said the interrogation was expected to last eight hours and afterward they would decide whether any of the three would be formally arrested. Earlier, authorities raided the airline's offices as well as those of the agency that oversees air traffic in Bolivia.

Authorities are also looking into whether LaMia, which received permission to fly only earlier this year, was favoured by Vargas' son, who headed the office responsible for licensing aircraft in Bolivia's civil aviation agency. After the crash, LaMia had its license revoked and several aviation officials, including Vargas' son, were suspended.

The plane was carrying a Brazilian soccer team to the opening match in the Copa Sudamericana tournament's finals when it crashed outside Medellin on November 28.

Prosecutors from Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia are expected to meet on Wednesday in Santa Cruz to combine efforts in determining the causes of the crash.

One of the six survivors of the crash said on Tuesday that he had been reassured by the airline before takeoff that the plane would make a refueling stop in the Bolivian town of Cobija, as it had on previous flights north.

Meanwhile, an employee in Bolivia's aviation agency turned up in Brazil on Tuesday seeking asylum.

In a document widely circulating in Bolivian media, the worker, Celia Castedo, appears to have pointed out a number of irregularities in the aircraft's flight plan, including not having enough fuel, to LaMia's dispatcher, who was killed in the crash. The authenticity of the document couldn't be immediately verified.

Fastest Growing Tourists Destinations In The World

1. Paraguay (up 97 per cent to 1.28m)

2. Tajikistan (up 94 per cent to 414,000)

3. Niue (up 62.9 per cent to 10,000)

4. Japan (up 47.5 per cent to 20million)

5. Iceland (up 29.8 per cent to 1.3millon)

6. Bosnia and Herzegovina (up 28.2 per cent to 687,000)

7. Panama (up 22.4 per cent to 2.13million)

8. Thailand (up 22.3 per cent to 30.3million)

9. Chile (up 20.4 per cent to 4.5million)

10. Palau (up 19.2 per cent to 168,000)

11. Hungary (up 19.1 per cent to 14.5million)

12. Seychelles (up 18.7 per cent to 318,000)

13. Sri Lanka (up 17.8 per cent to 2.12million)

14. Cuba (up 17.3 per cent to 3.48million)

15. Colombia (up 17.2 per cent to 3million)

16. Oman (up 17 per cent to 1.78million)

17. Romania (up 16.9 per cent to 2.24million)

More and more people are expanding their horizons and exploring the world, new statistics show, but some locations are creating more of a buzz than others.

The United Nations World Travel Organization has released its latest Travel Barometer, featuring the countries where arrivals rose fastest in 2015.

PARAGUAY
Leading the pack was Paraguay where tourism grew a whopping 97 per cent in 2015, making it the fastest growing travel destination of last year, closely followed by Tajikistan which saw 94 per cent more visitors than the previous year.

The country stealing the title for the fastest growing destination when comparing tourism rates was awarded to Paraguay, which saw an estimated 1.28million visitors arrive - almost double the figures welcomed in 2014.

As well as receiving the fastest grower status for its 97 per cent increase, Paraguay became South America's eighth most visited country, falling slightly behind neighbours, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay.

The large country, which has an estimated population of around 6.8million people, is located between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, and is home to large areas of swampland, subtropical forests and beautiful rivers - including the Paraguay River.

TAJIKISTAN
Off the beaten track, Tajikistan became better known in 2015, with 414,000 tourists flocking to the country in Asia.

The home to 8.2million people, which borders Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, saw a 94 per cent increase in the amount of visitors it received in 2015.

Known for its luscious green landscapes and rugged mountains used by hikers and climbers, the central Asian country took home the second spot for this year's fastest risers.

NIUE
Tiny island country, Niue, saw 62.9 per cent more visitors heading to its sands in the South Pacific Ocean in 2015.

Despite the increase only amounting to 3,000 people, this is more than double the population of people residing there - as only 1,109 were recorded living there when last check in 2014.

Niue, which is situated Northwest of New Zealand, is often referred to as 'The Rock' by local people - a spin off nickname from its traditional title 'Rock of Polynesia'.

JAPAN
Japan is packed up with high-rise buildings, imperial palaces and mountainous national parks - making it an obvious contender for one of the most popular destinations to visit

Filled with Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and cherry blossoms, Japan's popularity levels hit the roof in 2015 when they reached a 47.5 increase, seeing the amount of tourists visiting the country hit figures of around 20million people.

The large country, which has an estimated population of 127million people, is packed with high-rise buildings, imperial palaces and mountainous national parks - making it an obvious contender for one of the most popular destinations to visit.

The crowded capital lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia.

ICELAND
Iceland, the home place of mountains, hot springs, black-sand beaches and glaciers, was visited by 1.3million people over the year

Iceland's starring role in the latest Star Wars film - The Force Awakens - may have helped it slide into fifth place of the countries that welcomed extra tourists to their country in 2015.

The home place of mountains, hot springs, black-sand beaches and glaciers, was visited by 1.3million people over the year. As well as it's breathtaking beauty, the Nordic country, which is home to 323,002 people, also offers a renowned nightlife scene.

Ireland, another country to feature in the latest movie alongside Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, saw a 14 per cent increase in arrivals.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is made up of mountainous terrain, medieval villages and Muslim and Christian landmarks, placed sixth

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is made up of mountainous terrain, medieval villages and Muslim and Christian landmarks, was placed sixth for a 28.2 per cent increase, taking its overall visitation figures for the year to 687,000 people.

PANAMA
Coming in seventh was Panama. The stunning white sands and clear sea country which links Central and South America saw 2.13million people explore its modern skyscrapers, casinos and nightclubs in 2015 - a 22.4 per cent increase from 2014.

THAILAND
Eighth and ninth places were awarded to Thailand - from a 22.3 per cent increase, taking its 2015 visitor total to 30.3 million - and Chile welcomed 4.5million guests in the 12 month period - a 20.4 per cent boost.

South-east Asia experienced a good year for figures. Not only did Thailand, a traveller favourite, welcome an additional five million visitors, but Laos saw a 14.2 per cent increase, Burma 13.3 per cent and the Philippines 11.1 per cent.

The mesmerising Palau in the South Pacific took home tenth place. The tiny island, which is home to just 27,000 people, was visited by 168,000 travellers - more than six times its population and a 19.2 per cent rise.

Making up the rest of the top 17 countries to earn a tourism increase of more than 15 per cent, was Hungary, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Colombia, Oman and Romania.

Sri Lanka is a rugged land of rainforest, diverse wildlife and endless beaches - and last year it was visited by a huge 2.12million people

PERU: Largest Recovery Of Antiquities Returns To Peru

More than four thousand archaeological and historical pieces were exhibited last week at the Ministry of Culture, to celebrate the success by the Ministry of Foreign Relations in recovering the artifacts from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Spain and the United States.

The pieces include prehispanic pots and textiles, Colonial Cusco-school paintings, prehistoric bones, and Colonial hand-hammered macuquina coins (cobs).

The recovery is the result of several years of work, based on agreements signed by Peru with different countries on the protection and return of historical artifacts. The agreements served to build 22 different legal cases to reclaim pieces that had been found or stolen and smuggled out of the country for the lucrative antiquities market. One of the most famous processes was the Janeir Aude case in Argentina, which took 14 years to recover 4,136 artifacts, including a mummy bundle.

In total, 4,174 pieces were recovered from Argentina, 88 from the United States, 79 from Chile, two from Canada and one from Spain. It was the largest collection of recovered pieces handed over at the same time to the Ministry of Culture.

According to the Ministry of Culture, it has worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Relations over the past five years in the recovery of antiquities throughout the world. More than 8,000 artifacts have been returned also from Germany, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

BARBADOS: Rihanna Is Tourism Ambassador For Barbados

The Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) has named popular sultry singer Rihanna as the island’s tourism ambassador.

The BTA announced in New York recently that it has inked a three-year deal with Rihanna to “exclusively promote” Barbados as a tourist destination through advertising campaigns, promotional appearances and the social media.

“In the hearts of every Barbadian, Rihanna is known as the girl down the road, but to the world she has become a musical sensation and social phenomenon,” said Barbados Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy.

“She is a great source of national pride to Barbados, and we are thrilled to enter into this formal partnership to promote Barbados as a leading tourist destination,” he added.

Rihanna said she has joined forces with the BTA because she wants people to experience the “spirit and warmth” of her fellow Barbadians.

“Barbados is a place like no other, and one of the reasons for this is the spirit and national pride of our people,” she said in a statement.

“I want each and every visitor to this beautiful island to experience what makes this destination different from all others and that is the spirit and warmth of my fellow Barbadians,” she added.

In addition to promoting Barbados worldwide, the 23-year-old singer will kick off her duties by bringing her “Loud” tour to her hometown of Bridgetown, the Barbados capital, in Aug. 5.

She will also promote travel to the island from Brazil during her appearance on tour in September.

“We are proud to announce that musical sensation and social phenomenon Rihanna has partnered with the Barbados Tourism Authority as an exclusive promotional partner for three years,” the BTA said.