Health & Leisure

US raises its China advisory to ‘Do not travel’

: Health & Leisure; Friday, 31 January 2020

The US State Department has raised its China travel advisory to do not travel.

Vistara to add widebodies?

: Health & Leisure; Thursday, 30 January 2020

India's Vistara is talking up the prospects of adding widebody aircraft to its fleet if it can buy slots at the UK's London Heathrow.

Kenya under locust threat

: Health & Leisure; Thursday, 30 January 2020

The United Nations says the locust threat to Kenya's food production is “significant and extremely dangerous” after the insects devastated 'tens of thousands of hectares' of crops in Ethiopia and Somalia.

Coronavirus breakthrough in Melbourne

: Health & Leisure; Thursday, 30 January 2020

Scientists from The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) in Melbourne, Australia have created the Wuhan coronavirus from a patient sample, the first time the virus has been grown in cell culture outside China.

Airport retail sales tipped to soar - if coronavirus doesn't worsen

: Health & Leisure; Thursday, 30 January 2020

Global airport retail sales are forecast to reach US$48.2 billion in 2020, up 6.1 per cent on 2019, according to analytical company GlobalData.

Sands promoted at spa chain

: Health & Leisure; Wednesday, 29 January 2020

Mark Sands (pictured) has been promoted to vice president of wellness at Thailand’s Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.

Joining the group in 2011 as area spa director, he’s been working closely with the technical services team on spa development and the launch of Mission Wellness, the group-wide host wellbeing initiative.

Fast-response biometric system now in use in Thailand

: Health & Leisure; Wednesday, 29 January 2020

Thailand now is using an ultra-fast biometric system that captures passport, fingerprints and faces of each traveller upon arrival and departure.

The new border control system identifies a person by biometric data to prevent fraud and identity theft.
Developed by Germany’s Dermalog, the core of the service is a so-called Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

Virgin Australia to ban flat-faced pets from cabins

: Health & Leisure; Monday, 27 January 2020

Virgin Australia is banning pets with flat faces from its cabins, citing fears about breathing problems and overheating.

Empire State Building to celebrate Australia Day 2020

: Health & Leisure; Thursday, 23 January 2020

The USA's New York Empire State Building (ESB) will light in Australia's national colours of green and gold to celebrate Australia Day this year.

Celebrated annually on January 26, the national holiday commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships in New South Wales.

Additionally, as the world continues to follow the national bushfire crisis that has devastated the country, ESB's State Grill and Bar will add Foster's beer and a special Pavlova dessert to its menu on January 25 and 27, with all profits made from these limited-availability items donated directly to the NSW Rural Fire Service.